Narrative:

During the approach phase of recent IFR flight from wdr to ssi, jax approach cleared us for approach to maintain 1800 ft to VOR. Aircraft descended below altitude prior to reaching VOR. Preflight briefing indicated 4500 ft scattered clouds at destination. Delay in fueling and other delays caused delay in initiation of flight until after dark. Because of personal IFR restrs, I would have not initiated the flight if ceiling called for less than 1500 ft at destination at night in IMC. Flew en route phase of flight without incident. At arrival, anticipated radar vectors to the approach course after learning ceiling less than anticipated. Controller 'cleared us for the approach' approximately 30 mi out. Upon realization that I would be required to fly full approach in IMC took out plate to study in cabin lighting. I could not locate my reading glasses, therefore couldn't determine IAF, and made decision to fly DME arc using DME. Upon approaching VOR, controller alerted me that airport was closer than I thought, off left wing. Became momentarily disoriented, tuned in outbound radial and turned to final approach course. Approach ended successfully but learned to study approach plate closely before departing regardless of WX reported at destination. Also, to fly the approach and not let radio chatter effect flying unless direct to me.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PVT PLT WITH LIMITED IFR EXPERIENCE GETS DISORIENTED DURING A NIGHT VOR APCH TO SSI, GA.

Narrative: DURING THE APCH PHASE OF RECENT IFR FLT FROM WDR TO SSI, JAX APCH CLRED US FOR APCH TO MAINTAIN 1800 FT TO VOR. ACFT DSNDED BELOW ALT PRIOR TO REACHING VOR. PREFLT BRIEFING INDICATED 4500 FT SCATTERED CLOUDS AT DEST. DELAY IN FUELING AND OTHER DELAYS CAUSED DELAY IN INITIATION OF FLT UNTIL AFTER DARK. BECAUSE OF PERSONAL IFR RESTRS, I WOULD HAVE NOT INITIATED THE FLT IF CEILING CALLED FOR LESS THAN 1500 FT AT DEST AT NIGHT IN IMC. FLEW ENRTE PHASE OF FLT WITHOUT INCIDENT. AT ARR, ANTICIPATED RADAR VECTORS TO THE APCH COURSE AFTER LEARNING CEILING LESS THAN ANTICIPATED. CTLR 'CLRED US FOR THE APCH' APPROX 30 MI OUT. UPON REALIZATION THAT I WOULD BE REQUIRED TO FLY FULL APCH IN IMC TOOK OUT PLATE TO STUDY IN CABIN LIGHTING. I COULD NOT LOCATE MY READING GLASSES, THEREFORE COULDN'T DETERMINE IAF, AND MADE DECISION TO FLY DME ARC USING DME. UPON APCHING VOR, CTLR ALERTED ME THAT ARPT WAS CLOSER THAN I THOUGHT, OFF L WING. BECAME MOMENTARILY DISORIENTED, TUNED IN OUTBOUND RADIAL AND TURNED TO FINAL APCH COURSE. APCH ENDED SUCCESSFULLY BUT LEARNED TO STUDY APCH PLATE CLOSELY BEFORE DEPARTING REGARDLESS OF WX RPTED AT DEST. ALSO, TO FLY THE APCH AND NOT LET RADIO CHATTER EFFECT FLYING UNLESS DIRECT TO ME.

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.