Small transport pilot becomes disorientated on backcourse approach.

Attributes
ACN	139370
Time
Date	199003
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : smx
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1680 msl bound upper : 4600
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : vbg tower : smx
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other landing other
Route In Use	arrival other enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 720
ASRS Report	139370
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departed gvo on 317 degree right to intercept backcourse localizer approach to smx. Was completely set up for approach, everything was tuned and identify etc. Noticed that I was having to fly east to intercept when it should have been west. Rechked frequency, noticed that #1 navigation display was wrong numeral, fumbled around for a flashlight to shine on photo cell and confirmed that it was in fact tuned to localizer. At this point I didn't realize that I had tuned #1 navigation (HSI) to backcourse so I told the tower that I was disoriented and where I was. I then looked down and could see the airport so I cancelled IFR and landed VFR. I think that a more complete review of each approach plate at destination airport before flight would help to keep this from recurring. Perhaps highlighting front course when flying with HSI. The added distraction of having the wrong numerical display appear with the correct audio identify was confusing at a crucial time.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMT PLT BECOMES DISORIENTATED ON BACKCOURSE APCH.

Narrative: DEPARTED GVO ON 317 DEG R TO INTERCEPT BACKCOURSE LOC APCH TO SMX. WAS COMPLETELY SET UP FOR APCH, EVERYTHING WAS TUNED AND IDENT ETC. NOTICED THAT I WAS HAVING TO FLY E TO INTERCEPT WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN W. RECHKED FREQ, NOTICED THAT #1 NAV DISPLAY WAS WRONG NUMERAL, FUMBLED AROUND FOR A FLASHLIGHT TO SHINE ON PHOTO CELL AND CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS IN FACT TUNED TO LOC. AT THIS POINT I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT I HAD TUNED #1 NAV (HSI) TO BACKCOURSE SO I TOLD THE TWR THAT I WAS DISORIENTED AND WHERE I WAS. I THEN LOOKED DOWN AND COULD SEE THE ARPT SO I CANCELLED IFR AND LANDED VFR. I THINK THAT A MORE COMPLETE REVIEW OF EACH APCH PLATE AT DEST ARPT BEFORE FLT WOULD HELP TO KEEP THIS FROM RECURRING. PERHAPS HIGHLIGHTING FRONT COURSE WHEN FLYING WITH HSI. THE ADDED DISTR OF HAVING THE WRONG NUMERICAL DISPLAY APPEAR WITH THE CORRECT AUDIO IDENT WAS CONFUSING AT A CRUCIAL TIME.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.