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Relatively low time instrument rated small aircraft pilot encounters IMC during VFR flight. While attempting to make an NDB approach, becomes disoriented.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 438308 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199905 |
| Day | Sat |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | navaid : bz.ndb |
| State Reference | MT |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 9000 msl bound upper : 10000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | Mixed |
| Weather Elements | Fog Rain |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zlc.artcc |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Navigation In Use | other ndb |
| Flight Phase | cruise : enroute altitude change |
| Route In Use | approach : instrument non precision |
| Flight Plan | IFR Combined VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : private |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 880 flight time type : 380 |
| ASRS Report | 438308 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : declared emergency |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance Weather |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
Narrative:
Flying VFR from butte to bozeman. When it socked in around us, I called for an IFR to bzn from slc approach. I was cleared to climb to 11000 ft, direct to manni which I did. We reached bozeman so fast I had my hands full trying to study the unfamiliar plates. We reached manni at 10000 ft and I became disoriented for the approach sequence. I was struggling to read the plates and passing the IAF without descent and proper radial outbound. I finally declared an emergency and requested to circle to descend to VFR. At 9000 ft MSL, I saw clear below so I canceled IFR and emergency and descended to bozeman to land. Next time when I fly, file IFR and know plates prior.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: RELATIVELY LOW TIME INST RATED SMA PLT ENCOUNTERS IMC DURING VFR FLT. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE AN NDB APCH, BECOMES DISORIENTED.
Narrative: FLYING VFR FROM BUTTE TO BOZEMAN. WHEN IT SOCKED IN AROUND US, I CALLED FOR AN IFR TO BZN FROM SLC APCH. I WAS CLRED TO CLB TO 11000 FT, DIRECT TO MANNI WHICH I DID. WE REACHED BOZEMAN SO FAST I HAD MY HANDS FULL TRYING TO STUDY THE UNFAMILIAR PLATES. WE REACHED MANNI AT 10000 FT AND I BECAME DISORIENTED FOR THE APCH SEQUENCE. I WAS STRUGGLING TO READ THE PLATES AND PASSING THE IAF WITHOUT DSCNT AND PROPER RADIAL OUTBOUND. I FINALLY DECLARED AN EMER AND REQUESTED TO CIRCLE TO DSND TO VFR. AT 9000 FT MSL, I SAW CLR BELOW SO I CANCELED IFR AND EMER AND DSNDED TO BOZEMAN TO LAND. NEXT TIME WHEN I FLY, FILE IFR AND KNOW PLATES PRIOR.
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.