Pilot of an small aircraft sel descended below the VASI during a nighttime approach, resulting in the aircraft hitting an approach strobe light during go around.

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Attributes
ACN	324908
Time
Date	199601
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : myf
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 10
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : myf
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing : go around other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	other other : other pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 500 flight time type : 3
ASRS Report	324908
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While intercepting the ILS runway 28R approach into montgomery field, everything was smooth and normal. Conditions were VMC with a light wind from the northwest. At about 100 ft AGL I had a red over red indication from the VASI. Montgomery recently has added distance to runway 28R on the approach end, the displaced threshold is approximately 1000 ft down the runway. As I received this red over red indication I remained low because I thought I was currently over the extended portion of the runway approaching the displaced threshold. I basically tried to drag it in low and slow from this point. At this point and time the tower and myself had realized I was definitely too low and as I added power for the go around I felt a thud on the airplane. I then informed the tower of this while I was on the go around. That thud was a rabbit light. What really caused this problem was complacency and failure to fly the VASI at night. If I would have flown the VASI properly I would have avoided this mistake. Fortunately everybody walked away from this with no injuries. To prevent a recurrence of this I will never be complacent while flying, and I will always fly the VASI.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF AN SMA SEL DSNDED BELOW THE VASI DURING A NIGHTTIME APCH, RESULTING IN THE ACFT HITTING AN APCH STROBE LIGHT DURING GAR.

Narrative: WHILE INTERCEPTING THE ILS RWY 28R APCH INTO MONTGOMERY FIELD, EVERYTHING WAS SMOOTH AND NORMAL. CONDITIONS WERE VMC WITH A LIGHT WIND FROM THE NW. AT ABOUT 100 FT AGL I HAD A RED OVER RED INDICATION FROM THE VASI. MONTGOMERY RECENTLY HAS ADDED DISTANCE TO RWY 28R ON THE APCH END, THE DISPLACED THRESHOLD IS APPROX 1000 FT DOWN THE RWY. AS I RECEIVED THIS RED OVER RED INDICATION I REMAINED LOW BECAUSE I THOUGHT I WAS CURRENTLY OVER THE EXTENDED PORTION OF THE RWY APCHING THE DISPLACED THRESHOLD. I BASICALLY TRIED TO DRAG IT IN LOW AND SLOW FROM THIS POINT. AT THIS POINT AND TIME THE TWR AND MYSELF HAD REALIZED I WAS DEFINITELY TOO LOW AND AS I ADDED PWR FOR THE GAR I FELT A THUD ON THE AIRPLANE. I THEN INFORMED THE TWR OF THIS WHILE I WAS ON THE GAR. THAT THUD WAS A RABBIT LIGHT. WHAT REALLY CAUSED THIS PROB WAS COMPLACENCY AND FAILURE TO FLY THE VASI AT NIGHT. IF I WOULD HAVE FLOWN THE VASI PROPERLY I WOULD HAVE AVOIDED THIS MISTAKE. FORTUNATELY EVERYBODY WALKED AWAY FROM THIS WITH NO INJURIES. TO PREVENT A RECURRENCE OF THIS I WILL NEVER BE COMPLACENT WHILE FLYING, AND I WILL ALWAYS FLY THE VASI.

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.