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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.
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.