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An MU2 pilot is alerted and sent around by tower on an improperly exercised approach to runway 27L at ptk, mi.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 537643 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200202 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : ptk.airport |
| State Reference | MI |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 1700 msl bound upper : 3000 |
| Environment | |
| Weather Elements | other |
| Light | Dusk |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tower : ptk.tower tower : jax.tower |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | MU-2 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Navigation In Use | ils localizer & glide slope : 27l |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach landing : missed approach |
| Route In Use | approach : visual approach : instrument precision |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 400 |
| ASRS Report | 537643 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation other spatial deviation |
| Independent Detector | atc equipment : msaw atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance controller : issued alert flight crew : executed go around |
| Consequence | faa : reviewed incident with flight crew |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Weather Environmental Factor Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
On return to home base (ptk), ATIS WX clear, visibility 7 mi. I was cleared for visual or localizer back course approach runway 27L, maintain 3000 ft until FAF. The bright sun was directly over the runway and the WX was hazy. I passed the FAF and started descending. I did not have the runway in sight due to haze. I expected to see the runway before the FAF. I was looking very hard for the runway and inadvertently descended to 1700 ft thinking the runway had to be right ahead, the tower controller told me I was too low and to turn to 180 degrees, climb to 3000 ft and go back to approach control. Problem: the localizer frequency is 111.1, the remote VOR frequency is 111.0. The FAF is based on the VOR. I later discovered I had both receivers tuned to 111.0 and was therefore tracking to the VOR instead of the localizer. I know that I should have been more careful in setting up. However, ATIS called it clear and 7 mi visibility. The sun was directly in my eyes and I expected to see the runway easily. Additionally, the similarity in frequency I believe to be a problem, especially since they also have a VOR/GPS to the same runway.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN MU2 PLT IS ALERTED AND SENT AROUND BY TWR ON AN IMPROPERLY EXERCISED APCH TO RWY 27L AT PTK, MI.
Narrative: ON RETURN TO HOME BASE (PTK), ATIS WX CLR, VISIBILITY 7 MI. I WAS CLRED FOR VISUAL OR LOC BACK COURSE APCH RWY 27L, MAINTAIN 3000 FT UNTIL FAF. THE BRIGHT SUN WAS DIRECTLY OVER THE RWY AND THE WX WAS HAZY. I PASSED THE FAF AND STARTED DSNDING. I DID NOT HAVE THE RWY IN SIGHT DUE TO HAZE. I EXPECTED TO SEE THE RWY BEFORE THE FAF. I WAS LOOKING VERY HARD FOR THE RWY AND INADVERTENTLY DSNDED TO 1700 FT THINKING THE RWY HAD TO BE RIGHT AHEAD, THE TWR CTLR TOLD ME I WAS TOO LOW AND TO TURN TO 180 DEGS, CLB TO 3000 FT AND GO BACK TO APCH CTL. PROB: THE LOC FREQ IS 111.1, THE REMOTE VOR FREQ IS 111.0. THE FAF IS BASED ON THE VOR. I LATER DISCOVERED I HAD BOTH RECEIVERS TUNED TO 111.0 AND WAS THEREFORE TRACKING TO THE VOR INSTEAD OF THE LOC. I KNOW THAT I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE CAREFUL IN SETTING UP. HOWEVER, ATIS CALLED IT CLR AND 7 MI VISIBILITY. THE SUN WAS DIRECTLY IN MY EYES AND I EXPECTED TO SEE THE RWY EASILY. ADDITIONALLY, THE SIMILARITY IN FREQ I BELIEVE TO BE A PROB, ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY ALSO HAVE A VOR/GPS TO THE SAME RWY.
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.