Heading track deviation in a night operation.

Attributes
ACN	297498
Time
Date	199502
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sba
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sba
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 46 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 501
ASRS Report	297498
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

How the problem arose. I prepared for the ILS runway 7 approach. I set up the kns 81 for ILS in bin 0 and gaviotta VOR (gvo) in bin 1 GPS had habut, napps, sba as waypoints displayed on EFIS. I tuned in ILS, listened to morse code 'isba' - got ready for ILS. Approach said because of other traffic, I would have to fly VOR 25, circle for runway 15 (I'm not sure now if it was runway 15). I reset kns 81 to bin 1 and pressed the 'use' button and got ready for VOR 25. I crossed ILS heading about southeast. Approach said I could have ILS 7 after all and gave me a vector to ILS. I selected bin 0 (kns 81 displayed 0) but, in the confusion, I did not press 'use.' then the kns 81 displayed data for ILS but was set to gvo VOR!. I punched approach on autoplt and initial action seemed appropriate. I was very busy in cockpit when approach called 'you are north of localizer' I noticed heading had slowed to north and was just sorting things out when approach gave me an immediate vector to south. Close attention and prompt action by approach was greatly appreciated. However the design of the ancient kns 81 that will display the ILS (while blinking a light) while navigating to the VOR can be a safety hazard. The fact that I had once verified ILS by code contributed to the fact that I did not verify by code the second time -- I had already done it -- or so I thought.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HDG TRACK DEV IN A NIGHT OP.

Narrative: HOW THE PROB AROSE. I PREPARED FOR THE ILS RWY 7 APCH. I SET UP THE KNS 81 FOR ILS IN BIN 0 AND GAVIOTTA VOR (GVO) IN BIN 1 GPS HAD HABUT, NAPPS, SBA AS WAYPOINTS DISPLAYED ON EFIS. I TUNED IN ILS, LISTENED TO MORSE CODE 'ISBA' - GOT READY FOR ILS. APCH SAID BECAUSE OF OTHER TFC, I WOULD HAVE TO FLY VOR 25, CIRCLE FOR RWY 15 (I'M NOT SURE NOW IF IT WAS RWY 15). I RESET KNS 81 TO BIN 1 AND PRESSED THE 'USE' BUTTON AND GOT READY FOR VOR 25. I CROSSED ILS HDG ABOUT SE. APCH SAID I COULD HAVE ILS 7 AFTER ALL AND GAVE ME A VECTOR TO ILS. I SELECTED BIN 0 (KNS 81 DISPLAYED 0) BUT, IN THE CONFUSION, I DID NOT PRESS 'USE.' THEN THE KNS 81 DISPLAYED DATA FOR ILS BUT WAS SET TO GVO VOR!. I PUNCHED APCH ON AUTOPLT AND INITIAL ACTION SEEMED APPROPRIATE. I WAS VERY BUSY IN COCKPIT WHEN APCH CALLED 'YOU ARE N OF LOC' I NOTICED HDG HAD SLOWED TO N AND WAS JUST SORTING THINGS OUT WHEN APCH GAVE ME AN IMMEDIATE VECTOR TO S. CLOSE ATTN AND PROMPT ACTION BY APCH WAS GREATLY APPRECIATED. HOWEVER THE DESIGN OF THE ANCIENT KNS 81 THAT WILL DISPLAY THE ILS (WHILE BLINKING A LIGHT) WHILE NAVIGATING TO THE VOR CAN BE A SAFETY HAZARD. THE FACT THAT I HAD ONCE VERIFIED ILS BY CODE CONTRIBUTED TO THE FACT THAT I DID NOT VERIFY BY CODE THE SECOND TIME -- I HAD ALREADY DONE IT -- OR SO I THOUGHT.

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.