Track and heading deviation.

Attributes
ACN	145500
Time
Date	199005
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bvy
State Reference	MA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 650 msl bound upper : 650
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : bvy
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 31 flight time total : 358 flight time type : 31
ASRS Report	145500
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Flying localizer runway 16 bvy, descended to circling minimums west/O incident. At about 3 NM out, transitioned to visibility to field. While on visibility, with limited visibility, drifted off localizer course, west/O realizing it, because I was no longer scanning. Still did not have runway or airport. When tower asked if I had the runway in sight, I saw that I was off the localizer (full deflection), then 2) clearly saw the runway. I should have immediately begun a missed approach, but instead I continued to a straight in landing with normal maneuvering.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TRACK AND HEADING DEVIATION.

Narrative: FLYING LOC RWY 16 BVY, DSNDED TO CIRCLING MINIMUMS W/O INCIDENT. AT ABOUT 3 NM OUT, TRANSITIONED TO VIS TO FIELD. WHILE ON VIS, WITH LIMITED VISIBILITY, DRIFTED OFF LOC COURSE, W/O REALIZING IT, BECAUSE I WAS NO LONGER SCANNING. STILL DID NOT HAVE RWY OR ARPT. WHEN TWR ASKED IF I HAD THE RWY IN SIGHT, I SAW THAT I WAS OFF THE LOC (FULL DEFLECTION), THEN 2) CLEARLY SAW THE RWY. I SHOULD HAVE IMMEDIATELY BEGUN A MISSED APCH, BUT INSTEAD I CONTINUED TO A STRAIGHT IN LNDG WITH NORMAL MANEUVERING.

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.