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CE120 pilot attempts a VFR flight across 6 NM of water to a nearby airport without a radio or a functioning compass and enters IMC. After becoming lost he chooses to land on a taxiway at a military field.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1289837 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201508 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Cessna 120 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Landing |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying Single Pilot |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 30 Flight Crew Total 900 Flight Crew Type 85 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Airspace Violation All Types Deviation - Procedural Landing Without Clearance Deviation - Procedural FAR Inflight Event / Encounter VFR In IMC Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence |
Narrative:
I departed as pilot in command of a cessna 120 intending to land at airport ZZZ. During the brief flight; I encountered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) [9 miles east of departure.] the aircraft was not equipped to enter IMC; and I turned to an area of clear air to the south; the clouds continued to be lower and lower. For several minutes; I circled to see if I could turn back to [the departure airport] and end the flight; however; all I could see was haze and the water. It was also very difficult to get a good read on my compass. After almost 45 minutes of trying to get to ZZZ; I became concerned about the fuel status of my aircraft. This is when I elected to land at [a nearby military airport] on a taxiway. I did not have any functional radios in the airplane at the time; after I landed; I was apprehended by security. I explained that this was an emergency landing and that I had no communications equipment on the plane. As the pilot in command I had no choice but to land and believed that I was in serious risk of crashing unless I landed there. There was no way to safely get into ZZZ; and I could not safely return to [departure airport.] [the military airfield] was the only airport available to me.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: CE120 pilot attempts a VFR flight across 6 NM of water to a nearby airport without a radio or a functioning compass and enters IMC. After becoming lost he chooses to land on a taxiway at a military field.
Narrative: I departed as pilot in command of a Cessna 120 intending to land at airport ZZZ. During the brief flight; I encountered Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) [9 miles east of departure.] The aircraft was not equipped to enter IMC; and I turned to an area of clear air to the south; the clouds continued to be lower and lower. For several minutes; I circled to see if I could turn back to [the departure airport] and end the flight; however; all I could see was haze and the water. It was also very difficult to get a good read on my compass. After almost 45 minutes of trying to get to ZZZ; I became concerned about the fuel status of my aircraft. This is when I elected to land at [a nearby military airport] on a taxiway. I did not have any functional radios in the airplane at the time; after I landed; I was apprehended by security. I explained that this was an emergency landing and that I had no communications equipment on the plane. As the pilot in command I had no choice but to land and believed that I was in serious risk of crashing unless I landed there. There was no way to safely get into ZZZ; and I could not safely return to [departure airport.] [The military airfield] was the only airport available to me.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.