<< >> NASA ASRS Report 286052, October 1994

Pilot of small aircraft sel lost GS during approach, made a missed approach and declared an emergency. However, all radio indications and communications were lost and the pilot headed for VMC.

Attributes
ACN	286052
Time
Date	199410
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sat
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sat
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	286052
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

About 35 NM from sat, I observed a generator warning light. During ILS approach I observed a red flag on GS indicator. I executed missed approach. Radios were becoming weak, confirming electrical problem. I declared an emergency and requested a radar (ASR) approach. Prior to base, I lost communication entirely. I had studied the satellite picture that morning from commercial WX provider and was aware of clear WX in west, tx. I climbed to 4500 ft and headed wsw hoping to break out. After about 45 mins I observed some breaks in the overcast so I descended, breaking out around 1000 ft AGL. I found a road and followed it to junction, tx, where I landed uneventfully. The only thing I know to do different is to not fly single engine IFR with ceilings/visibility below 1000/3. A backup generator would be nice.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMA SEL LOST GS DURING APCH, MADE A MISSED APCH AND DECLARED AN EMER. HOWEVER, ALL RADIO INDICATIONS AND COMS WERE LOST AND THE PLT HEADED FOR VMC.

Narrative: ABOUT 35 NM FROM SAT, I OBSERVED A GENERATOR WARNING LIGHT. DURING ILS APCH I OBSERVED A RED FLAG ON GS INDICATOR. I EXECUTED MISSED APCH. RADIOS WERE BECOMING WEAK, CONFIRMING ELECTRICAL PROB. I DECLARED AN EMER AND REQUESTED A RADAR (ASR) APCH. PRIOR TO BASE, I LOST COM ENTIRELY. I HAD STUDIED THE SATELLITE PICTURE THAT MORNING FROM COMMERCIAL WX PROVIDER AND WAS AWARE OF CLR WX IN WEST, TX. I CLBED TO 4500 FT AND HEADED WSW HOPING TO BREAK OUT. AFTER ABOUT 45 MINS I OBSERVED SOME BREAKS IN THE OVCST SO I DSNDED, BREAKING OUT AROUND 1000 FT AGL. I FOUND A ROAD AND FOLLOWED IT TO JUNCTION, TX, WHERE I LANDED UNEVENTFULLY. THE ONLY THING I KNOW TO DO DIFFERENT IS TO NOT FLY SINGLE ENG IFR WITH CEILINGS/VISIBILITY BELOW 1000/3. A BACKUP GENERATOR WOULD BE NICE.

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.