Small aircraft pilot attempts a visual approach into ketchikan after discovering the loss of both localizer receivers. Reporter suggests installation of radar at ktn.

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Attributes
ACN	185965
Time
Date	199108
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ktn
State Reference	AK
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1000 msl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zan tower : ilg
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 2 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	185965
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation
Situations
ATC Facility	other physical facility procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

Please install arsa radar at ketchikan. It is badly needed. Alaska WX is very changeable and somewhat unpredictable. On aug/fri/91 I flew IFR from vancouver to ketchikan. Upon arrival at the approach to ketchikan I discovered my localizer was inoperative so was #2 localizer. Then I discovered a huge open spot all the way down to the surface. I notified ketchikan radio, cancelled my IFR flight plan and descended to 1000 ft. Although I was in clear VFR conditions, I could not penetrate into the IFR conditions over the ketchikan airport. I started to climb, notified ketchikan radio to reinstitute my IFR status, and asked for assistance. Ketchikan radio flew me back and forth, asked for frequent radio transmissions, and wasted nearly 1 hour of my fuel. I declared an emergency, whereupon I was sent to port rupert airport, where I broke out at 4500 ft, and landed uneventfully. Ketchikan badly needs radar because of rapidly changing WX there. I am having my radios repaired as soon as possible and will fly VFR until they are repaired.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT ATTEMPTS A VISUAL APCH INTO KETCHIKAN AFTER DISCOVERING THE LOSS OF BOTH LOC RECEIVERS. RPTR SUGGESTS INSTALLATION OF RADAR AT KTN.

Narrative: PLEASE INSTALL ARSA RADAR AT KETCHIKAN. IT IS BADLY NEEDED. ALASKA WX IS VERY CHANGEABLE AND SOMEWHAT UNPREDICTABLE. ON AUG/FRI/91 I FLEW IFR FROM VANCOUVER TO KETCHIKAN. UPON ARR AT THE APCH TO KETCHIKAN I DISCOVERED MY LOC WAS INOP SO WAS #2 LOC. THEN I DISCOVERED A HUGE OPEN SPOT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE SURFACE. I NOTIFIED KETCHIKAN RADIO, CANCELLED MY IFR FLT PLAN AND DSNDED TO 1000 FT. ALTHOUGH I WAS IN CLR VFR CONDITIONS, I COULD NOT PENETRATE INTO THE IFR CONDITIONS OVER THE KETCHIKAN ARPT. I STARTED TO CLB, NOTIFIED KETCHIKAN RADIO TO REINSTITUTE MY IFR STATUS, AND ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE. KETCHIKAN RADIO FLEW ME BACK AND FORTH, ASKED FOR FREQUENT RADIO TRANSMISSIONS, AND WASTED NEARLY 1 HR OF MY FUEL. I DECLARED AN EMER, WHEREUPON I WAS SENT TO PORT RUPERT ARPT, WHERE I BROKE OUT AT 4500 FT, AND LANDED UNEVENTFULLY. KETCHIKAN BADLY NEEDS RADAR BECAUSE OF RAPIDLY CHANGING WX THERE. I AM HAVING MY RADIOS REPAIRED ASAP AND WILL FLY VFR UNTIL THEY ARE REPAIRED.

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.