Small aircraft X VFR radar vector toward higher terrain.

Attributes
ACN	192151
Time
Date	199110
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : avl
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : avl tower : srq
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 215
ASRS Report	192151
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	conflict : ground less severe other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

On a VFR flight in a rented small aircraft X as I was on approach to asheville, the controller gave me vectors around traffic. I was following the controller's instructions when I noticed I was being vectored into a mountain. After telling controller I was unable to maintain heading, he gave me another heading to follow. This heading put me into another mountain. I did not inform controller this time, but I climbed to clear mountains and then controller cleared me for downwind and I called tower and landed. The reason I am making this report is I feel that 'even if I am VFR' because I was in a busy terminal area the controller should have been watching closer. I am also convinced controller did not care about my flight because of where I was when he cleared me for downwind.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA X VFR RADAR VECTOR TOWARD HIGHER TERRAIN.

Narrative: ON A VFR FLT IN A RENTED SMA X AS I WAS ON APCH TO ASHEVILLE, THE CTLR GAVE ME VECTORS AROUND TFC. I WAS FOLLOWING THE CTLR'S INSTRUCTIONS WHEN I NOTICED I WAS BEING VECTORED INTO A MOUNTAIN. AFTER TELLING CTLR I WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN HDG, HE GAVE ME ANOTHER HDG TO FOLLOW. THIS HDG PUT ME INTO ANOTHER MOUNTAIN. I DID NOT INFORM CTLR THIS TIME, BUT I CLBED TO CLR MOUNTAINS AND THEN CTLR CLRED ME FOR DOWNWIND AND I CALLED TWR AND LANDED. THE REASON I AM MAKING THIS RPT IS I FEEL THAT 'EVEN IF I AM VFR' BECAUSE I WAS IN A BUSY TERMINAL AREA THE CTLR SHOULD HAVE BEEN WATCHING CLOSER. I AM ALSO CONVINCED CTLR DID NOT CARE ABOUT MY FLT BECAUSE OF WHERE I WAS WHEN HE CLRED ME FOR DOWNWIND.

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.