<< >> NASA ASRS Report 381320, September 1997

Instructor pilot on training flight gets disoriented on an ADF approach. Cites his drift angle to maintain course created the event. He descended prematurely and the approach controller gave him a low altitude warning and a command to climb to approach altitude. Reporter performed a go around. Reporter had a 'safety pilot' on board.

Attributes
ACN	381320
Time
Date	199709
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mht
State Reference	NH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 850 msl bound upper : 1600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mht
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna Aircraft Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude descent : approach landing : missed approach
Route In Use	enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 2 flight time total : 4801 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	381320
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : observer observation : passenger
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

While practicing instrument approachs at mht in VFR conditions with a safety pilot, I became disoriented as to my exact position relative to the NDB because of large heading correction angles needed to stay on course, and descended to the MDA before reaching the final approach fix. Approach asked for my altitude and directed me to climb to the appropriate altitude. I started a climb and declared a missed approach. Factors leading to problem: 1) several months since last practice NDB approach, 2) concentrated (fixated) on heading corrections and not enough on positional awareness relative to the NDB. On returning to bed, I did the NDB runway 29 at bed to increase proficiency. The approach was done correctly. I plan to do more NDB practice approachs to prevent this problem from recurring.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INSTRUCTOR PLT ON TRAINING FLT GETS DISORIENTED ON AN ADF APCH. CITES HIS DRIFT ANGLE TO MAINTAIN COURSE CREATED THE EVENT. HE DSNDED PREMATURELY AND THE APCH CTLR GAVE HIM A LOW ALT WARNING AND A COMMAND TO CLB TO APCH ALT. RPTR PERFORMED A GAR. RPTR HAD A 'SAFETY PLT' ON BOARD.

Narrative: WHILE PRACTICING INST APCHS AT MHT IN VFR CONDITIONS WITH A SAFETY PLT, I BECAME DISORIENTED AS TO MY EXACT POS RELATIVE TO THE NDB BECAUSE OF LARGE HEADING CORRECTION ANGLES NEEDED TO STAY ON COURSE, AND DSNDED TO THE MDA BEFORE REACHING THE FINAL APCH FIX. APCH ASKED FOR MY ALT AND DIRECTED ME TO CLB TO THE APPROPRIATE ALT. I STARTED A CLB AND DECLARED A MISSED APCH. FACTORS LEADING TO PROB: 1) SEVERAL MONTHS SINCE LAST PRACTICE NDB APCH, 2) CONCENTRATED (FIXATED) ON HEADING CORRECTIONS AND NOT ENOUGH ON POSITIONAL AWARENESS RELATIVE TO THE NDB. ON RETURNING TO BED, I DID THE NDB RWY 29 AT BED TO INCREASE PROFICIENCY. THE APCH WAS DONE CORRECTLY. I PLAN TO DO MORE NDB PRACTICE APCHS TO PREVENT THIS PROB FROM RECURRING.

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.