Narrative:

We were cleared for an ILS runway 9R approach to ptk. This was the first time I've ever shot this approach there. I tuned in '111.0' which was the frequency in the middle of the page and pointing to the IAF. I even idented it. The needle never centered and my GPS showed me about 1 mi north of course. This was confirmed by the tower. We then got clearance for a visual approach and landing on runway 9R, which was uneventful. Then, in an attempt to determine the cause, I found the localizer frequency printed well outside the 10 NM circle. It was 111.1 (an odd decimal, as is designed to be). The problem was solved. I put in the wrong frequency. Besides a better job at studying the chart 3 things would have helped in this situation: 1) the frequency box for the VOR at pontiac could be put up higher on the page away from the localized course. 2) the VOR frequency could be significantly different than the ILS frequency. It could also have an even decimal. With 111.0, I didn't perceive the zero as an even number, which would have alerted me. 3) the localizer frequency box could be moved inside the 10 NM circle and closer to the depicted course. Right now, the printed frequency 111.1 is 2 inches from the IAF. The VOR frequency, which points to the IAF (through the VOR) is only 3/4 inches away. Of course, I looked at the wrong frequency. The supervisor at lansing FSS said, 'I wasn't the first and they were trying to do something about it.' fortunately, I didn't descend, since I was never established.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FOLLOWING A TRACK DEV DURING AN ILS APCH TO PTK, MI, A CPR PLT DISCOVERS HE HAS USED THE VOR FREQ INSTEAD OF THE ILS FREQ. HE SUGGESTS THAT THE CHARTING IS CONFUSING AND PROVIDES SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED FOR AN ILS RWY 9R APCH TO PTK. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER SHOT THIS APCH THERE. I TUNED IN '111.0' WHICH WAS THE FREQ IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PAGE AND POINTING TO THE IAF. I EVEN IDENTED IT. THE NEEDLE NEVER CTRED AND MY GPS SHOWED ME ABOUT 1 MI N OF COURSE. THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY THE TWR. WE THEN GOT CLRNC FOR A VISUAL APCH AND LNDG ON RWY 9R, WHICH WAS UNEVENTFUL. THEN, IN AN ATTEMPT TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE, I FOUND THE LOC FREQ PRINTED WELL OUTSIDE THE 10 NM CIRCLE. IT WAS 111.1 (AN ODD DECIMAL, AS IS DESIGNED TO BE). THE PROB WAS SOLVED. I PUT IN THE WRONG FREQ. BESIDES A BETTER JOB AT STUDYING THE CHART 3 THINGS WOULD HAVE HELPED IN THIS SIT: 1) THE FREQ BOX FOR THE VOR AT PONTIAC COULD BE PUT UP HIGHER ON THE PAGE AWAY FROM THE LOCALIZED COURSE. 2) THE VOR FREQ COULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT THAN THE ILS FREQ. IT COULD ALSO HAVE AN EVEN DECIMAL. WITH 111.0, I DIDN'T PERCEIVE THE ZERO AS AN EVEN NUMBER, WHICH WOULD HAVE ALERTED ME. 3) THE LOC FREQ BOX COULD BE MOVED INSIDE THE 10 NM CIRCLE AND CLOSER TO THE DEPICTED COURSE. RIGHT NOW, THE PRINTED FREQ 111.1 IS 2 INCHES FROM THE IAF. THE VOR FREQ, WHICH POINTS TO THE IAF (THROUGH THE VOR) IS ONLY 3/4 INCHES AWAY. OF COURSE, I LOOKED AT THE WRONG FREQ. THE SUPVR AT LANSING FSS SAID, 'I WASN'T THE FIRST AND THEY WERE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.' FORTUNATELY, I DIDN'T DSND, SINCE I WAS NEVER ESTABLISHED.

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.