<< >> NASA ASRS Report 130000, November 1989

Small aircraft pilot descends too low after ILS approach to VFR conditions for transition to another airport with no approach.

Attributes
ACN	130000
Time
Date	198911
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pao
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 700 msl bound upper : 1100
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : oak tower : pao
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 45 flight time total : 1350 flight time type : 410
ASRS Report	130000
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On an IFR flight from sna to pao, I made the ILS 12R approach to sjc to reach VFR conditions. Upon doing so,I requested VFR to pao through moffett airspace. During this operation, I was handed off from moffett to pao tower. In the confusion which resulted from a combination of limited visibility and pao tower telling me my position, I thought I was closer to pao than I actually was. At that time, I started a gradual descent to as low as 700' MSL. When I realized I was still several mi from the airport, I went up to 1100' MSL. In retrospect,I realize that I have had several problems on IFR flight plans going into pao due to lack of a published approach, and occasionally some problems dealing with bay approach, who seems very anxious to have pilots cancel IFR as soon as possible when en route to pao. I even once had an argument on communication with bay over the legality of retaining IFR to a visibility approach to pao. I feel the procedures for IFR flts into pao need to be more realistic. Bay should be more willing to provide vectors for visibility approachs. In this particular case, the MVA may have been too high for the cloud cover. Vectors would at least provide an expected procedure upon arrival, significantly reducing pilot anxiety over an impending argument upon arrival.

Related reports:

• A light aircraft pilot reported an near midair collision in ...
• Pilot was concerned about another aircraft flying along side...
• A DA20 in VFR conditions had an near midair collision with a...

	Enter your search terms Submit search form
	Web www.37000feet.com

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT DESCENDS TOO LOW AFTER ILS APCH TO VFR CONDITIONS FOR TRANSITION TO ANOTHER ARPT WITH NO APCH.

Narrative: ON AN IFR FLT FROM SNA TO PAO, I MADE THE ILS 12R APCH TO SJC TO REACH VFR CONDITIONS. UPON DOING SO,I REQUESTED VFR TO PAO THROUGH MOFFETT AIRSPACE. DURING THIS OPERATION, I WAS HANDED OFF FROM MOFFETT TO PAO TWR. IN THE CONFUSION WHICH RESULTED FROM A COMBINATION OF LIMITED VISIBILITY AND PAO TWR TELLING ME MY POS, I THOUGHT I WAS CLOSER TO PAO THAN I ACTUALLY WAS. AT THAT TIME, I STARTED A GRADUAL DSCNT TO AS LOW AS 700' MSL. WHEN I REALIZED I WAS STILL SEVERAL MI FROM THE ARPT, I WENT UP TO 1100' MSL. IN RETROSPECT,I REALIZE THAT I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBS ON IFR FLT PLANS GOING INTO PAO DUE TO LACK OF A PUBLISHED APCH, AND OCCASIONALLY SOME PROBS DEALING WITH BAY APCH, WHO SEEMS VERY ANXIOUS TO HAVE PLTS CANCEL IFR ASAP WHEN ENRTE TO PAO. I EVEN ONCE HAD AN ARGUMENT ON COM WITH BAY OVER THE LEGALITY OF RETAINING IFR TO A VIS APCH TO PAO. I FEEL THE PROCS FOR IFR FLTS INTO PAO NEED TO BE MORE REALISTIC. BAY SHOULD BE MORE WILLING TO PROVIDE VECTORS FOR VIS APCHS. IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THE MVA MAY HAVE BEEN TOO HIGH FOR THE CLOUD COVER. VECTORS WOULD AT LEAST PROVIDE AN EXPECTED PROC UPON ARR, SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING PLT ANXIETY OVER AN IMPENDING ARGUMENT UPON ARR.

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.