A GA aircraft in a controled flight towards terrain during a night operation.

Attributes
ACN	282297
Time
Date	199409
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : prc
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5400 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent other other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 375 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	282297
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : student
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were returning from a 4 hour training flight (night, dual, cross country) the observer in the back called out traffic below us, apparently not moving in relation to us. Because we were maneuvering for the traffic pattern, I knew that any traffic below us had to be close. I looked below and to the right to determine if any evasive action needed to be taken. I observed red and green lights and strobes. While the 3 of us (myself, student, observer) were pre-occupied with the traffic, we had descended below tpa of 6000 ft to below 5400 ft in an area where the terrain is about 5200 ft MSL. Contributing to this event were these factors: 1) I should have designated the task of flying the airplane to the student while I searched for traffic (I told him to maintain 7000 ft, but apparently he misread the altimeter). 2) I should have monitored the student's progress a little closer, especially in light of the fact that he was tired, inexperienced, and hadn't flown in many months, and 3) I haven't pressed home the fact that flying the airplane is the most important task for the PIC. It turns out that the flashing lights and strobes were from an arizona highway patrol car on an unlighted rural road.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A GA ACFT IN A CTLED FLT TOWARDS TERRAIN DURING A NIGHT OP.

Narrative: WE WERE RETURNING FROM A 4 HR TRAINING FLT (NIGHT, DUAL, XCOUNTRY) THE OBSERVER IN THE BACK CALLED OUT TFC BELOW US, APPARENTLY NOT MOVING IN RELATION TO US. BECAUSE WE WERE MANEUVERING FOR THE TFC PATTERN, I KNEW THAT ANY TFC BELOW US HAD TO BE CLOSE. I LOOKED BELOW AND TO THE R TO DETERMINE IF ANY EVASIVE ACTION NEEDED TO BE TAKEN. I OBSERVED RED AND GREEN LIGHTS AND STROBES. WHILE THE 3 OF US (MYSELF, STUDENT, OBSERVER) WERE PRE-OCCUPIED WITH THE TFC, WE HAD DSNDED BELOW TPA OF 6000 FT TO BELOW 5400 FT IN AN AREA WHERE THE TERRAIN IS ABOUT 5200 FT MSL. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS EVENT WERE THESE FACTORS: 1) I SHOULD HAVE DESIGNATED THE TASK OF FLYING THE AIRPLANE TO THE STUDENT WHILE I SEARCHED FOR TFC (I TOLD HIM TO MAINTAIN 7000 FT, BUT APPARENTLY HE MISREAD THE ALTIMETER). 2) I SHOULD HAVE MONITORED THE STUDENT'S PROGRESS A LITTLE CLOSER, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT HE WAS TIRED, INEXPERIENCED, AND HADN'T FLOWN IN MANY MONTHS, AND 3) I HAVEN'T PRESSED HOME THE FACT THAT FLYING THE AIRPLANE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TASK FOR THE PIC. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE FLASHING LIGHTS AND STROBES WERE FROM AN ARIZONA HWY PATROL CAR ON AN UNLIGHTED RURAL ROAD.

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.