<< >> NASA ASRS Report 142575, April 1990

Pilot of small aircraft being vectored for ILS approach to baf fails to intercept localizer on assigned heading and descends below glidepath at OM setting off the MSAW.

Attributes
ACN	142575
Time
Date	199004
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : baf
State Reference	MA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1800 msl bound upper : 1800
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bdl tower : baf
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : baf
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 : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 2900 flight time type : 20
ASRS Report	142575
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On a 12 mi flight in instrument conditions I was vectored to intercept the ILS by bradley approach and became established in the third attempt. I believe the angle to intercept the ILS course was too wide so that I paralleled rather than intercepted on the first two tries. On the approach the NDB at the OM was inoperative and as I approached the OM I got the sound of the OM but saw the ADF needle in my scan as pointing to my rear or to my passage. Forgetting the NDB was out I was puzzled for an instant, lowered the nose and went below the OM altitude of 1900' on the approach. I began to correct and heard in the headphone, radar contact lost, altitude alert. I continued to climb and announced a missed approach. I was vectored again to the ILS, intercepted the ILS course, and completed the approach to landing west/O further incident.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMA BEING VECTORED FOR ILS APCH TO BAF FAILS TO INTERCEPT LOCALIZER ON ASSIGNED HEADING AND DESCENDS BELOW GLIDEPATH AT OM SETTING OFF THE MSAW.

Narrative: ON A 12 MI FLT IN INSTRUMENT CONDITIONS I WAS VECTORED TO INTERCEPT THE ILS BY BRADLEY APCH AND BECAME ESTABLISHED IN THE THIRD ATTEMPT. I BELIEVE THE ANGLE TO INTERCEPT THE ILS COURSE WAS TOO WIDE SO THAT I PARALLELED RATHER THAN INTERCEPTED ON THE FIRST TWO TRIES. ON THE APCH THE NDB AT THE OM WAS INOPERATIVE AND AS I APCHED THE OM I GOT THE SOUND OF THE OM BUT SAW THE ADF NEEDLE IN MY SCAN AS POINTING TO MY REAR OR TO MY PASSAGE. FORGETTING THE NDB WAS OUT I WAS PUZZLED FOR AN INSTANT, LOWERED THE NOSE AND WENT BELOW THE OM ALT OF 1900' ON THE APCH. I BEGAN TO CORRECT AND HEARD IN THE HEADPHONE, RADAR CONTACT LOST, ALT ALERT. I CONTINUED TO CLB AND ANNOUNCED A MISSED APCH. I WAS VECTORED AGAIN TO THE ILS, INTERCEPTED THE ILS COURSE, AND COMPLETED THE APCH TO LNDG W/O FURTHER INCIDENT.

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.