<< >> NASA ASRS Report 530691, November 2001

A PA28 pilot, distracted while trying to orient himself using an aeronautical chart, deviated from assigned altitude and course.

Attributes
ACN	530691
Time
Date	200111
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : cma.vor
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6800 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sct.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 19 flight time total : 550 flight time type : 530
ASRS Report	530691
Person 2
Function	observation : passenger
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to assigned altitude flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Airspace Structure
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While IFR en route as filed between gaviota and ventura VOR's, received amended clearance of V186, thence V363, thence V23, thence as filed, and received a vector towards V186. I turned as vectored and started reviewing the en route map for navigation information. I, nor my passenger, could not find V363 on en route map. With no autoplt, attention spent searching en route map for V363 caused correctional vectors from ATC toward intercepting V186 and finally amended clearance of camarillo to van nuys. Between them, ATC requested a climb back to 7000 ft from an altitude 6800 ft, and inquired if I was having trouble navigating. Obviously I was, but I still spent 2-3 mins more before asking ATC for help locating V363. The controller replied not having a map, but asked another controller who knew that it was the pomona 164 degree radial. Uneventful flight from that point. The solution is to ask sooner, not later for clearance information/clarification. Also, an autoplt provides great help dealing with distractions.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PA28 PLT, DISTRACTED WHILE TRYING TO ORIENT HIMSELF USING AN AERO CHART, DEVIATED FROM ASSIGNED ALT AND COURSE.

Narrative: WHILE IFR ENRTE AS FILED BTWN GAVIOTA AND VENTURA VOR'S, RECEIVED AMENDED CLRNC OF V186, THENCE V363, THENCE V23, THENCE AS FILED, AND RECEIVED A VECTOR TOWARDS V186. I TURNED AS VECTORED AND STARTED REVIEWING THE ENRTE MAP FOR NAV INFO. I, NOR MY PAX, COULD NOT FIND V363 ON ENRTE MAP. WITH NO AUTOPLT, ATTN SPENT SEARCHING ENRTE MAP FOR V363 CAUSED CORRECTIONAL VECTORS FROM ATC TOWARD INTERCEPTING V186 AND FINALLY AMENDED CLRNC OF CAMARILLO TO VAN NUYS. BTWN THEM, ATC REQUESTED A CLB BACK TO 7000 FT FROM AN ALT 6800 FT, AND INQUIRED IF I WAS HAVING TROUBLE NAVING. OBVIOUSLY I WAS, BUT I STILL SPENT 2-3 MINS MORE BEFORE ASKING ATC FOR HELP LOCATING V363. THE CTLR REPLIED NOT HAVING A MAP, BUT ASKED ANOTHER CTLR WHO KNEW THAT IT WAS THE POMONA 164 DEG RADIAL. UNEVENTFUL FLT FROM THAT POINT. THE SOLUTION IS TO ASK SOONER, NOT LATER FOR CLRNC INFO/CLARIFICATION. ALSO, AN AUTOPLT PROVIDES GREAT HELP DEALING WITH DISTRACTIONS.

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.