Narrative:

Pilot missed destination airport at end of x-country flight using pilotage only and continued flying in the general area searching for airport. Instrument scan, after approximately 30 mins; indicated low fuel, and pilot diverted to dupage, il, airport for refueling. Pilot was cleared #2 for approach and when on approximately 1 mi final was requested by controller to execute a right 360 degree in order to allow a faster twin (cleared #3 for approach) to land first. Pilot advised controller that he preferred to remain on final and complete the landing as originally cleared due to low fuel condition. Twin was diverted to another runway west/O a problem. Normal landing. Pilot refueled at dupage, departed, and returned to destination airport at schaumburg, il, airpark. Using VOR navigation. Pilot needs to improve complete instrument scan, and remain aware of elapsed time, particularly after a missed approach. Pilot was determined to use pilotage/dead reckoning to find airport after missed approach, which may or may not be successful. Immediately identing airport location via VOR or NDB navigation, and then tracing chkpoints outbnd for pilotage training is a safer method. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information. Reporter states upon questioning that his use of 'missed approach' does not relate to IFR practice, simply to inability to locate the airport. No follow up from anyone at this time.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LOW TIME PLT GETS INTO LOW FUEL SITUATION WHILE TRYING TO FIND DESTINATION ARPT BY PILOTAGE ALONE. DIVERTS TO REFUEL, OPTS NOT TO DO A 360 FOR FASTER TRAFFIC WHEN ESTABLISHED ON FINAL.

Narrative: PLT MISSED DEST ARPT AT END OF X-COUNTRY FLT USING PILOTAGE ONLY AND CONTINUED FLYING IN THE GENERAL AREA SEARCHING FOR ARPT. INSTRUMENT SCAN, AFTER APPROX 30 MINS; INDICATED LOW FUEL, AND PLT DIVERTED TO DUPAGE, IL, ARPT FOR REFUELING. PLT WAS CLRED #2 FOR APCH AND WHEN ON APPROX 1 MI FINAL WAS REQUESTED BY CTLR TO EXECUTE A R 360 DEG IN ORDER TO ALLOW A FASTER TWIN (CLRED #3 FOR APCH) TO LAND FIRST. PLT ADVISED CTLR THAT HE PREFERRED TO REMAIN ON FINAL AND COMPLETE THE LNDG AS ORIGINALLY CLRED DUE TO LOW FUEL CONDITION. TWIN WAS DIVERTED TO ANOTHER RWY W/O A PROB. NORMAL LNDG. PLT REFUELED AT DUPAGE, DEPARTED, AND RETURNED TO DEST ARPT AT SCHAUMBURG, IL, AIRPARK. USING VOR NAV. PLT NEEDS TO IMPROVE COMPLETE INSTRUMENT SCAN, AND REMAIN AWARE OF ELAPSED TIME, PARTICULARLY AFTER A MISSED APCH. PLT WAS DETERMINED TO USE PILOTAGE/DEAD RECKONING TO FIND ARPT AFTER MISSED APCH, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE SUCCESSFUL. IMMEDIATELY IDENTING ARPT LOCATION VIA VOR OR NDB NAV, AND THEN TRACING CHKPOINTS OUTBND FOR PILOTAGE TRNING IS A SAFER METHOD. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO. RPTR STATES UPON QUESTIONING THAT HIS USE OF 'MISSED APCH' DOES NOT RELATE TO IFR PRACTICE, SIMPLY TO INABILITY TO LOCATE THE ARPT. NO FOLLOW UP FROM ANYONE AT THIS 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.