Altitude excursion for small aircraft in IMC.

Attributes
ACN	156523
Time
Date	199008
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ceu
State Reference	SC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2600 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : gsp
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : private pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 4200 flight time type : 30
ASRS Report	156523
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
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:

On a pleasure and training flight with a friend to clemson, sc, in IFR conditions we were cleared for an ADF approach from electric city VOR to clemson airport at assigned altitude of 3000' given by gsp approach. Upon arriving at clemson, gsp announced clemson at 12 O'clock 1 3/4 mi. My student was holding heading and altitude well the whole time in IMC, so momentarily I took time to check the ADF as it appeared not to function properly. While doing so my student had momentarily seen the airport and had begun to push forward to lose altitude. When I looked up, he had lost 3-400' and gsp advised to return to assigned immediately which we did and diverted to anderson, sc. This situation could have been prevented by a more in depth briefing with my friend before the flight as to rules, clrncs, etc. Since the ADF was inoperative, we received a clearance to anderson and my student at this point was rattled and disoriented. The VOR approach was completed by myself as my student was unable to hold a proper heading and altitude on our way to anderson.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT EXCURSION FOR SMA IN IMC.

Narrative: ON A PLEASURE AND TRNING FLT WITH A FRIEND TO CLEMSON, SC, IN IFR CONDITIONS WE WERE CLRED FOR AN ADF APCH FROM ELECTRIC CITY VOR TO CLEMSON ARPT AT ASSIGNED ALT OF 3000' GIVEN BY GSP APCH. UPON ARRIVING AT CLEMSON, GSP ANNOUNCED CLEMSON AT 12 O'CLOCK 1 3/4 MI. MY STUDENT WAS HOLDING HDG AND ALT WELL THE WHOLE TIME IN IMC, SO MOMENTARILY I TOOK TIME TO CHK THE ADF AS IT APPEARED NOT TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. WHILE DOING SO MY STUDENT HAD MOMENTARILY SEEN THE ARPT AND HAD BEGUN TO PUSH FORWARD TO LOSE ALT. WHEN I LOOKED UP, HE HAD LOST 3-400' AND GSP ADVISED TO RETURN TO ASSIGNED IMMEDIATELY WHICH WE DID AND DIVERTED TO ANDERSON, SC. THIS SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY A MORE IN DEPTH BRIEFING WITH MY FRIEND BEFORE THE FLT AS TO RULES, CLRNCS, ETC. SINCE THE ADF WAS INOPERATIVE, WE RECEIVED A CLRNC TO ANDERSON AND MY STUDENT AT THIS POINT WAS RATTLED AND DISORIENTED. THE VOR APCH WAS COMPLETED BY MYSELF AS MY STUDENT WAS UNABLE TO HOLD A PROPER HDG AND ALT ON OUR WAY TO ANDERSON.

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.