 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
On approach to ecg, nc, a piper pilot fails to engage approach mode of automatic coupler and gets off course at 3 mi from airport in instrument conditions. Approach control detected track error and notified tower who advised pilot. Corrections were made.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 463113 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200002 |
| Day | Sun |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : ecg.airport |
| State Reference | NC |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 3000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : orf.tracon tower : ecg.tower |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | PA-34-220T Turbo Seneca III |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Route In Use | approach : instrument non precision arrival : on vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : private pilot : multi engine |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 700 flight time type : 250 |
| ASRS Report | 463113 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : local |
| Qualification | controller : non radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation |
| Independent Detector | other controllerb |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued advisory flight crew : became reoriented |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
I was vectored to the final approach course for the VOR/DME runway 10 at ecg. I coupled the autoplt for the approach, but forgot to set it in 'approach' mode. Norfolk approach turned me over to ecg tower about 15 mi out once I was established on the approach. I was concentrating on the descent from 3000 ft, and did not notice that the heading had wandered, and I was off course to the north (about 3/4 mi at 3 mi out). Norfolk called elizabeth city and tower told me I was off course. I corrected and landed. During the distraction I broke out into VMC too high and had to circle off the approach end to land. Factors affecting my failure to properly set up the autoplt in the approach mode included: fatigue, nighttime, concentrating on the descent, and looking for ground references. Also, I placed too much confidence in the autoplt.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ON APCH TO ECG, NC, A PIPER PLT FAILS TO ENGAGE APCH MODE OF AUTO COUPLER AND GETS OFF COURSE AT 3 MI FROM ARPT IN INST CONDITIONS. APCH CTL DETECTED TRACK ERROR AND NOTIFIED TWR WHO ADVISED PLT. CORRECTIONS WERE MADE.
Narrative: I WAS VECTORED TO THE FINAL APCH COURSE FOR THE VOR/DME RWY 10 AT ECG. I COUPLED THE AUTOPLT FOR THE APCH, BUT FORGOT TO SET IT IN 'APCH' MODE. NORFOLK APCH TURNED ME OVER TO ECG TWR ABOUT 15 MI OUT ONCE I WAS ESTABLISHED ON THE APCH. I WAS CONCENTRATING ON THE DSCNT FROM 3000 FT, AND DID NOT NOTICE THAT THE HEADING HAD WANDERED, AND I WAS OFF COURSE TO THE N (ABOUT 3/4 MI AT 3 MI OUT). NORFOLK CALLED ELIZABETH CITY AND TWR TOLD ME I WAS OFF COURSE. I CORRECTED AND LANDED. DURING THE DISTR I BROKE OUT INTO VMC TOO HIGH AND HAD TO CIRCLE OFF THE APCH END TO LAND. FACTORS AFFECTING MY FAILURE TO PROPERLY SET UP THE AUTOPLT IN THE APCH MODE INCLUDED: FATIGUE, NIGHTTIME, CONCENTRATING ON THE DSCNT, AND LOOKING FOR GND REFS. ALSO, I PLACED TOO MUCH CONFIDENCE IN THE AUTOPLT.
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.