Low time C172 pilot receives flight assist from ATC when he becomes disoriented on IFR flight plan.

Attributes
ACN	460123
Time
Date	200001
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 1g0.airport
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl single value : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Weather Elements	Ice
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : tol.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 9 flight time total : 210 flight time type : 210
ASRS Report	460123
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : became reoriented
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I was being vectored in to a VOR approach in to runway 21. I was given instructions to descend and intercept 030 degree radial for a straight-in approach. I was fighting vertigo and became confused how to intercept the radial. I completely flew through the radial and by the time I figured out where I was, I was close to the airport. The tower gave me a visual onto the runway from that point. I should have reported my confusion right away, but I didn't want to sound like an idiot on the radio. Had the tower not worked with me, I'm not sure how this may have come out. He (the tower operator) did a great job of calming me down and getting me to the airport.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LOW TIME C172 PLT RECEIVES FLT ASSIST FROM ATC WHEN HE BECOMES DISORIENTED ON IFR FLT PLAN.

Narrative: I WAS BEING VECTORED IN TO A VOR APCH IN TO RWY 21. I WAS GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS TO DSND AND INTERCEPT 030 DEG RADIAL FOR A STRAIGHT-IN APCH. I WAS FIGHTING VERTIGO AND BECAME CONFUSED HOW TO INTERCEPT THE RADIAL. I COMPLETELY FLEW THROUGH THE RADIAL AND BY THE TIME I FIGURED OUT WHERE I WAS, I WAS CLOSE TO THE ARPT. THE TWR GAVE ME A VISUAL ONTO THE RWY FROM THAT POINT. I SHOULD HAVE RPTED MY CONFUSION RIGHT AWAY, BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO SOUND LIKE AN IDIOT ON THE RADIO. HAD THE TWR NOT WORKED WITH ME, I'M NOT SURE HOW THIS MAY HAVE COME OUT. HE (THE TWR OPERATOR) DID A GREAT JOB OF CALMING ME DOWN AND GETTING ME TO THE ARPT.

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.