Loss of aircraft control by a private pilot of a PA32 results in missed approach at destination airport. A diversion occurs to an alternate airport where reporter obtains a flight assist from approach controller during 2 missed approachs prior to a landing at bos, ma.

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Attributes
ACN	540963
Time
Date	200203
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : owd.airport
State Reference	MA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1100 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : a90.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 2200 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	540963
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other anomaly other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : regained aircraft control flight crew : diverted to another airport
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On mar/xa/02 at XA00Z, I departed vineyard, ma, airport (mvy) on an instrument flight plan. My destination was norwood, ma (owd), 45 mi away. The ceiling at owd was reported to be 900 ft. The visibility 5 mi. 12 mi outside of norwood, while still in IMC, the autoplt malfunctioned causing the plane to turn drastically on its side and lose 900 ft. After disengaging the autoplt and returning to assigned altitude of 2000 ft, I was unable to complete the approach at norwood -- partially because the ceiling had dropped to below 700 ft and partially due to the after effects of the incident. I diverted to logan airport (bos), but again had 2 missed approachs before being able to land. I needed 'surveillance' assistance by logan approach to land, causing the airport to marshal safety equipment. The airport manager congratulated me on my flying and waived all landing and parking fees, but I'm not sure that my several missed approachs don't constitute a violation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LOSS OF ACFT CTL BY A PVT PLT OF A PA32 RESULTS IN MISSED APCH AT DEST ARPT. A DIVERSION OCCURS TO AN ALTERNATE ARPT WHERE RPTR OBTAINS A FLT ASSIST FROM APCH CTLR DURING 2 MISSED APCHS PRIOR TO A LNDG AT BOS, MA.

Narrative: ON MAR/XA/02 AT XA00Z, I DEPARTED VINEYARD, MA, ARPT (MVY) ON AN INST FLT PLAN. MY DEST WAS NORWOOD, MA (OWD), 45 MI AWAY. THE CEILING AT OWD WAS RPTED TO BE 900 FT. THE VISIBILITY 5 MI. 12 MI OUTSIDE OF NORWOOD, WHILE STILL IN IMC, THE AUTOPLT MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE PLANE TO TURN DRASTICALLY ON ITS SIDE AND LOSE 900 FT. AFTER DISENGAGING THE AUTOPLT AND RETURNING TO ASSIGNED ALT OF 2000 FT, I WAS UNABLE TO COMPLETE THE APCH AT NORWOOD -- PARTIALLY BECAUSE THE CEILING HAD DROPPED TO BELOW 700 FT AND PARTIALLY DUE TO THE AFTER EFFECTS OF THE INCIDENT. I DIVERTED TO LOGAN ARPT (BOS), BUT AGAIN HAD 2 MISSED APCHS BEFORE BEING ABLE TO LAND. I NEEDED 'SURVEILLANCE' ASSISTANCE BY LOGAN APCH TO LAND, CAUSING THE ARPT TO MARSHAL SAFETY EQUIP. THE ARPT MGR CONGRATULATED ME ON MY FLYING AND WAIVED ALL LNDG AND PARKING FEES, BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT MY SEVERAL MISSED APCHS DON'T CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION.

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.