Instructor with instrument student makes approach without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	284376
Time
Date	199410
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bwg
State Reference	KY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 4400 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	284376
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : student
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On an IFR training flight from bardstown, ky, to crossville, tn, to bowling green, ky, to bardstown, ky -- with practice approachs at csv and bwg. Approximately 20 mi southeast of bwg assigned altitude 4000 ft. ZME instructions were to maintain 5000 ft after bwg. Upon arrival at IAF bwg, I began an outbound turn and descent for VOR runway 3. At this point center questioned me about altitude, and my intentions and informed me I had started an instrument approach without a clearance to do so. At that time cleared me for the VOR runway 3 approach at bwg. Upon executing the missed approach and maneuvering to avoid VFR traffic (1 on final for runway 3 touch and go, 1 departing runway 3, and 1 transitioning the traffic pattern north to south at my altitude). I requested a climb on course, direct to ewo. The center controller was, or seemed to be, confused to what was happening or misinformed, or did not understand my request. The flight continued to destination without problem. I understand and am aware after the fact that I failed to request an approach at bwg and obtain a clearance. Better communications would have prevented the problem.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INSTRUCTOR WITH INST STUDENT MAKES APCH WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: ON AN IFR TRAINING FLT FROM BARDSTOWN, KY, TO CROSSVILLE, TN, TO BOWLING GREEN, KY, TO BARDSTOWN, KY -- WITH PRACTICE APCHS AT CSV AND BWG. APPROX 20 MI SE OF BWG ASSIGNED ALT 4000 FT. ZME INSTRUCTIONS WERE TO MAINTAIN 5000 FT AFTER BWG. UPON ARR AT IAF BWG, I BEGAN AN OUTBOUND TURN AND DSCNT FOR VOR RWY 3. AT THIS POINT CTR QUESTIONED ME ABOUT ALT, AND MY INTENTIONS AND INFORMED ME I HAD STARTED AN INST APCH WITHOUT A CLRNC TO DO SO. AT THAT TIME CLRED ME FOR THE VOR RWY 3 APCH AT BWG. UPON EXECUTING THE MISSED APCH AND MANEUVERING TO AVOID VFR TFC (1 ON FINAL FOR RWY 3 TOUCH AND GO, 1 DEPARTING RWY 3, AND 1 TRANSITIONING THE TFC PATTERN N TO S AT MY ALT). I REQUESTED A CLB ON COURSE, DIRECT TO EWO. THE CTR CTLR WAS, OR SEEMED TO BE, CONFUSED TO WHAT WAS HAPPENING OR MISINFORMED, OR DID NOT UNDERSTAND MY REQUEST. THE FLT CONTINUED TO DEST WITHOUT PROB. I UNDERSTAND AND AM AWARE AFTER THE FACT THAT I FAILED TO REQUEST AN APCH AT BWG AND OBTAIN A CLRNC. BETTER COMS WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE PROB.

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.