GA small aircraft 1500 altitude at night making an IAP ADF approach IMC.

Attributes
ACN	198460
Time
Date	199201
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : amn
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mbs artcc : zma
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other landing other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 340 flight time type : 340
ASRS Report	198460
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was being vectored for NDB approach when encountered icing. Airspeed was deteriorating on airspeed indicator and radios failed. By the time I evaluated situation I was at 2500 MSL and in VFR and airport in sight and proceeded to land VFR. Later discovered that audio panel was at fault and pitot heat not working. I believe that IFR training should include actual radio failure and pitot failure to better prepare pilot for actual emergency.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA 1500 ALT AT NIGHT MAKING AN IAP ADF APCH IMC.

Narrative: I WAS BEING VECTORED FOR NDB APCH WHEN ENCOUNTERED ICING. AIRSPD WAS DETERIORATING ON AIRSPD INDICATOR AND RADIOS FAILED. BY THE TIME I EVALUATED SITUATION I WAS AT 2500 MSL AND IN VFR AND ARPT IN SIGHT AND PROCEEDED TO LAND VFR. LATER DISCOVERED THAT AUDIO PANEL WAS AT FAULT AND PITOT HEAT NOT WORKING. I BELIEVE THAT IFR TRAINING SHOULD INCLUDE ACTUAL RADIO FAILURE AND PITOT FAILURE TO BETTER PREPARE PLT FOR ACTUAL EMER.

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.