Small aircraft flies unauthorized approach.

Attributes
ACN	128638
Time
Date	198911
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 1d2
State Reference	MI
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dtw
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 600 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	128638
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

IFR flight plan filed from eri to idz terminated in VOR-a approach. This approach is 'not authority/authorized at night'--possibly due to substandard lighting. Idz is home base, therefore we preferred idz over yip. Conditions at time necessitated an instrument approach, and we expected to be diverted to yip. Controller advised VOR-a approach was in use and vectored us to final approach. We thought that if approach was 'not authority/authorized,' he would not offer it. Approach was executed safely because we were familiar with airport and had good visibility.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA FLIES UNAUTH APCH.

Narrative: IFR FLT PLAN FILED FROM ERI TO IDZ TERMINATED IN VOR-A APCH. THIS APCH IS 'NOT AUTH AT NIGHT'--POSSIBLY DUE TO SUBSTANDARD LIGHTING. IDZ IS HOME BASE, THEREFORE WE PREFERRED IDZ OVER YIP. CONDITIONS AT TIME NECESSITATED AN INSTRUMENT APCH, AND WE EXPECTED TO BE DIVERTED TO YIP. CTLR ADVISED VOR-A APCH WAS IN USE AND VECTORED US TO FINAL APCH. WE THOUGHT THAT IF APCH WAS 'NOT AUTH,' HE WOULD NOT OFFER IT. APCH WAS EXECUTED SAFELY BECAUSE WE WERE FAMILIAR WITH ARPT AND HAD GOOD VISIBILITY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.