Narrative:

Received briefing and NOTAMS from ZSE FSS by phone 30 mins prior to flight. Told FSS I would be doing multiple approachs at paine field. NOTAMS were pae VOR unusable, 315-340 degrees below 4000' MSL between 10 and 20 mi. No mention by FSS of any VOR approachs not currently in use. 2 VOR approachs exist--VOR 15 and VOR 34. I filed and subsequently was issued a clearance. Approaching paine field, I was asked intentions by ATC and I advised them of ILS 16, followed by VOR 15. They acknowledged. Subsequently, ZSE gave me missed approach procedure after ILS for VOR approach. The missed approach procedure was flying heading 250 degrees, climb 2500' cleared VOR, proceed outbnd for procedure turn. Thinking I was flying the VOR 16, I set up for the intercept outbnd. Some mins later, ATC asked my intentions. I replied, 'intercepting outbnd course for VOR 16.' at this time ATC advised me this approach was unauthorized because of radials unusable, that I was cleared for VOR 34, not VOR 16. I never heard that, but he did say he said it. I was receiving good navigation, and since I was within 10 mi, I never thought it a problem. After discussing the operational error with the controller, he advised there was, 'no problem,' and would not be reported. I replied I was sorry; however, FSS did not notify me in the briefing that VOR 16 was unauthorized, for surely I would not have filed that way. He assured me there indeed was a NOTAM (which I subsequently verified), and did not know why I wasn't notified. It may very well be, in this case, that I full expected VOR 16 and preconditioned myself to that approach to the point where I did not hear VOR 34. Human failing? However, I do not ever recall a clearance to VOR 34.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMA ON PRACTICE IFR APCH TO PAE ATTEMPTED TO APCH ON VOR WHERE SIGNALS WERE REPORTED UNUSABLE AT THE MISSED APCH ALT.

Narrative: RECEIVED BRIEFING AND NOTAMS FROM ZSE FSS BY PHONE 30 MINS PRIOR TO FLT. TOLD FSS I WOULD BE DOING MULTIPLE APCHS AT PAINE FIELD. NOTAMS WERE PAE VOR UNUSABLE, 315-340 DEGS BELOW 4000' MSL BTWN 10 AND 20 MI. NO MENTION BY FSS OF ANY VOR APCHS NOT CURRENTLY IN USE. 2 VOR APCHS EXIST--VOR 15 AND VOR 34. I FILED AND SUBSEQUENTLY WAS ISSUED A CLRNC. APCHING PAINE FIELD, I WAS ASKED INTENTIONS BY ATC AND I ADVISED THEM OF ILS 16, FOLLOWED BY VOR 15. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED. SUBSEQUENTLY, ZSE GAVE ME MISSED APCH PROC AFTER ILS FOR VOR APCH. THE MISSED APCH PROC WAS FLYING HDG 250 DEGS, CLB 2500' CLRED VOR, PROCEED OUTBND FOR PROC TURN. THINKING I WAS FLYING THE VOR 16, I SET UP FOR THE INTERCEPT OUTBND. SOME MINS LATER, ATC ASKED MY INTENTIONS. I REPLIED, 'INTERCEPTING OUTBND COURSE FOR VOR 16.' AT THIS TIME ATC ADVISED ME THIS APCH WAS UNAUTH BECAUSE OF RADIALS UNUSABLE, THAT I WAS CLRED FOR VOR 34, NOT VOR 16. I NEVER HEARD THAT, BUT HE DID SAY HE SAID IT. I WAS RECEIVING GOOD NAV, AND SINCE I WAS WITHIN 10 MI, I NEVER THOUGHT IT A PROB. AFTER DISCUSSING THE OPERROR WITH THE CTLR, HE ADVISED THERE WAS, 'NO PROB,' AND WOULD NOT BE RPTED. I REPLIED I WAS SORRY; HOWEVER, FSS DID NOT NOTIFY ME IN THE BRIEFING THAT VOR 16 WAS UNAUTH, FOR SURELY I WOULD NOT HAVE FILED THAT WAY. HE ASSURED ME THERE INDEED WAS A NOTAM (WHICH I SUBSEQUENTLY VERIFIED), AND DID NOT KNOW WHY I WASN'T NOTIFIED. IT MAY VERY WELL BE, IN THIS CASE, THAT I FULL EXPECTED VOR 16 AND PRECONDITIONED MYSELF TO THAT APCH TO THE POINT WHERE I DID NOT HEAR VOR 34. HUMAN FAILING? HOWEVER, I DO NOT EVER RECALL A CLRNC TO VOR 34.

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.