Atx was operated SVFR when aircraft instrumentation was not current.

Attributes
ACN	172831
Time
Date	199103
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bet
State Reference	AK
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Route In Use	approach : svfr
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 204 flight time total : 956 flight time type : 485
ASRS Report	172831
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I requested a SVFR clearance into the bet control zone at night. I am current as an INS rated pilot; however, the aircraft, though IFR equipped, was not current at the time. I was using for navigation an ADF for primary navigation, backed up by a LORAN, then the VOR. The VOR is also an ILS instrument. Due to fast deteriorating WX with icing conditions, I elected in the interest of safety not to fly to an alternate airport. Bet has the most navaids and the best lighting system in the area, and was a key factor in my decision to request an SVFR. The WX on departure from bet was currently VFR and did not start to deteriorate until I neared the end of my trip. The WX was reported to be sky partially obscured, 300 overcast, visibility 5 mi in light snow and fog, VFR flight not recommended. The WX in the area was also worsening and icing conditions were present. I elected not to fly to an alternate airport in these conditions, even though I had enough fuel. The VOR had not had an a current accuracy check, but I was using the ADF for primary navigation. The aircraft had not had a current pitot-static check for IFR flight--the aircraft was not intended for IFR flight. With only those 2 systems not current, the aircraft was equipped for IFR flight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATX WAS OPERATED SVFR WHEN ACFT INSTRUMENTATION WAS NOT CURRENT.

Narrative: I REQUESTED A SVFR CLRNC INTO THE BET CTL ZONE AT NIGHT. I AM CURRENT AS AN INS RATED PLT; HOWEVER, THE ACFT, THOUGH IFR EQUIPPED, WAS NOT CURRENT AT THE TIME. I WAS USING FOR NAV AN ADF FOR PRIMARY NAV, BACKED UP BY A LORAN, THEN THE VOR. THE VOR IS ALSO AN ILS INSTRUMENT. DUE TO FAST DETERIORATING WX WITH ICING CONDITIONS, I ELECTED IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY NOT TO FLY TO AN ALTERNATE ARPT. BET HAS THE MOST NAVAIDS AND THE BEST LIGHTING SYS IN THE AREA, AND WAS A KEY FACTOR IN MY DECISION TO REQUEST AN SVFR. THE WX ON DEP FROM BET WAS CURRENTLY VFR AND DID NOT START TO DETERIORATE UNTIL I NEARED THE END OF MY TRIP. THE WX WAS RPTED TO BE SKY PARTIALLY OBSCURED, 300 OVCST, VISIBILITY 5 MI IN LIGHT SNOW AND FOG, VFR FLT NOT RECOMMENDED. THE WX IN THE AREA WAS ALSO WORSENING AND ICING CONDITIONS WERE PRESENT. I ELECTED NOT TO FLY TO AN ALTERNATE ARPT IN THESE CONDITIONS, EVEN THOUGH I HAD ENOUGH FUEL. THE VOR HAD NOT HAD AN A CURRENT ACCURACY CHK, BUT I WAS USING THE ADF FOR PRIMARY NAV. THE ACFT HAD NOT HAD A CURRENT PITOT-STATIC CHK FOR IFR FLT--THE ACFT WAS NOT INTENDED FOR IFR FLT. WITH ONLY THOSE 2 SYSTEMS NOT CURRENT, THE ACFT WAS EQUIPPED FOR IFR FLT.

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.