<< >> NASA ASRS Report 306790, June 1995

Small aircraft pilot fails to switch to active frequency once properly tuned, overshoots approach course.

Attributes
ACN	306790
Time
Date	199506
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : smo
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : lax
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
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 : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 1100 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	306790
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While intercepting the VOR a approach into santa monica, I failed to correctly tune my receiver and consequently overshot the approach course. Just as I idented the problem, socal approach vectored me back onto the course. I landed without further problem. When I overshot the approach course to the southeast, I was possibly in los angeles class B airspace (at that point the approach course is very close to the class B airspace). The mistake was a simple but dangerous one. I had dialed in the correct frequency but had not hit the 'use' button. This is my home airport and I am very familiar with the approach. Lack of attention and failure to identify the frequency were the cause of the problem.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT FAILS TO SWITCH TO ACTIVE FREQ ONCE PROPERLY TUNED, OVERSHOOTS APCH COURSE.

Narrative: WHILE INTERCEPTING THE VOR A APCH INTO SANTA MONICA, I FAILED TO CORRECTLY TUNE MY RECEIVER AND CONSEQUENTLY OVERSHOT THE APCH COURSE. JUST AS I IDENTED THE PROB, SOCAL APCH VECTORED ME BACK ONTO THE COURSE. I LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER PROB. WHEN I OVERSHOT THE APCH COURSE TO THE SE, I WAS POSSIBLY IN LOS ANGELES CLASS B AIRSPACE (AT THAT POINT THE APCH COURSE IS VERY CLOSE TO THE CLASS B AIRSPACE). THE MISTAKE WAS A SIMPLE BUT DANGEROUS ONE. I HAD DIALED IN THE CORRECT FREQ BUT HAD NOT HIT THE 'USE' BUTTON. THIS IS MY HOME ARPT AND I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE APCH. LACK OF ATTN AND FAILURE TO IDENT THE FREQ WERE THE CAUSE OF 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.