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C205 on approach runway 3 sff was in contact with the field but high on approach. Elected to make a 360 degree turn to lose altitude. Tower advised approach control had seen the turn on radar and was concerned. Did not want to circle because of the low ceilings and after the 360 degree turn was able to land. Was in visual contact with ground and airport at all times.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 358500 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199701 |
| Day | Tue |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : geg airport : sff |
| State Reference | WA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | Mixed |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : geg tower : sff |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Cessna Super Skywagon/Super Skylane |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | cruise other descent : approach |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : commercial |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 12 flight time total : 1215 flight time type : 550 |
| ASRS Report | 358500 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course |
| Consequence | faa : reviewed incident with flight crew |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
I was on sff VOR runway 3R approach at 12 DME (missed approach is 13.8) when I saw the airport. WX at sff was 500 ft broken, 1200 ft overcast, but 3000 ft broken west of the airport on the approach path. I was too high to land without a severe sideslip, but was in VMC, so I impulsively did a gentle 360 degree turn to blow off altitude. The airport and ground were in sight during the turn. I remained in VMC. Tower called while I was on short final, advised me that ATC (geg approach) had seen the 360 degree turn on radar and were concerned, and asked my current location. I told them I was on short final. They called me in sight, and I made an uneventful landing. A circling approach or a missed approach would have caused me to re-enter IMC.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: C205 ON APCH RWY 3 SFF WAS IN CONTACT WITH THE FIELD BUT HIGH ON APCH. ELECTED TO MAKE A 360 DEG TURN TO LOSE ALT. TWR ADVISED APCH CTL HAD SEEN THE TURN ON RADAR AND WAS CONCERNED. DID NOT WANT TO CIRCLE BECAUSE OF THE LOW CEILINGS AND AFTER THE 360 DEG TURN WAS ABLE TO LAND. WAS IN VISUAL CONTACT WITH GND AND ARPT AT ALL TIMES.
Narrative: I WAS ON SFF VOR RWY 3R APCH AT 12 DME (MISSED APCH IS 13.8) WHEN I SAW THE ARPT. WX AT SFF WAS 500 FT BROKEN, 1200 FT OVCST, BUT 3000 FT BROKEN W OF THE ARPT ON THE APCH PATH. I WAS TOO HIGH TO LAND WITHOUT A SEVERE SIDESLIP, BUT WAS IN VMC, SO I IMPULSIVELY DID A GENTLE 360 DEG TURN TO BLOW OFF ALT. THE ARPT AND GND WERE IN SIGHT DURING THE TURN. I REMAINED IN VMC. TWR CALLED WHILE I WAS ON SHORT FINAL, ADVISED ME THAT ATC (GEG APCH) HAD SEEN THE 360 DEG TURN ON RADAR AND WERE CONCERNED, AND ASKED MY CURRENT LOCATION. I TOLD THEM I WAS ON SHORT FINAL. THEY CALLED ME IN SIGHT, AND I MADE AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG. A CIRCLING APCH OR A MISSED APCH WOULD HAVE CAUSED ME TO RE-ENTER IMC.
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.