Using the wrong transponder code for lost communication, a pilot receives a proper green light for landing anyway. Not being in a position he likes to land, he ignores it and spends time troubleshooting his problem only to find the receiver was turned to minimum. The error of his ways is realized after an appropriate lecture from the tower controller.

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Attributes
ACN	507960
Time
Date	200104
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sql.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 800
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 8 flight time total : 320 flight time type : 8
ASRS Report	507960
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Lost communication in sql pattern. Mistakenly squawked 7500 instead of 7600. Actually, did not need to continuously squawk other than 1200. Tower gave green light gun signal, but was not in position to land. Troubleshot radios on second circuit, discovered volume control set to zero. I never moved it -- vibration? In future, volume control knob is part of scan. If problem repeats, avionics shop. Also, will keep handheld within pilot's reach for back-up. Tower gave lecture on proper use of lost communication code.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: USING THE WRONG XPONDER CODE FOR LOST COM, A PLT RECEIVES A PROPER GREEN LIGHT FOR LNDG ANYWAY. NOT BEING IN A POS HE LIKES TO LAND, HE IGNORES IT AND SPENDS TIME TROUBLESHOOTING HIS PROB ONLY TO FIND THE RECEIVER WAS TURNED TO MINIMUM. THE ERROR OF HIS WAYS IS REALIZED AFTER AN APPROPRIATE LECTURE FROM THE TWR CTLR.

Narrative: LOST COM IN SQL PATTERN. MISTAKENLY SQUAWKED 7500 INSTEAD OF 7600. ACTUALLY, DID NOT NEED TO CONTINUOUSLY SQUAWK OTHER THAN 1200. TWR GAVE GREEN LIGHT GUN SIGNAL, BUT WAS NOT IN POS TO LAND. TROUBLESHOT RADIOS ON SECOND CIRCUIT, DISCOVERED VOLUME CTL SET TO ZERO. I NEVER MOVED IT -- VIBRATION? IN FUTURE, VOLUME CTL KNOB IS PART OF SCAN. IF PROB REPEATS, AVIONICS SHOP. ALSO, WILL KEEP HANDHELD WITHIN PLT'S REACH FOR BACK-UP. TWR GAVE LECTURE ON PROPER USE OF LOST COM CODE.

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.