Narrative:

During the final phase of performing the VOR DME-a to 4g6 (hornell ny) we noticed two towers approximately 2 miles southwest of the field that are not indicated on the commercial approach charts. The MDA is 2440 at this point, and I believe there is a serious risk to aircraft because the towers are on a hill and almost up to the MDA. I estimate they are about 2250 MSL. After speaking with the airport operator it is clear local pilots know of the towers, but I feel quite certain this approach will not meet terps guidelines as it is currently published. I suggest the FAA send an airways inspection aircraft out (in VMC conditions) as soon as possible! Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter in describing the event stated, the aircraft navigation equipment had recently been checked, confirming they were tracking on course. The towers were right of course and appeared to be approximately 2250 ft in ht. (MSL) a slight deviation left of course was made to ensure adequate clearance. The reporter feels the towers may affect the validity/safety of the approach. He suggests a conformation of the tower's ht be made and a flight check of the affected apches be conducted. Supplemental information: the airport manager for hornell mun. (4g6), revealed, the two towers have been in place for approximately 6 to 7 yrs and are located 1 NM southwest of the airport. The towers were quoted as being 200 ft high atop a 2000 foot MSL hill, making them approximately 2200 ft high (MSL).

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C560 CREW, ON APCH TO HORNELL MUN, NY (4G6), OBSERVED TWO TWRS, WHICH THEY BELIEVED VIOLATE THE CLRNC CRITERIA FOR THE APCH.

Narrative: DURING THE FINAL PHASE OF PERFORMING THE VOR DME-A TO 4G6 (HORNELL NY) WE NOTICED TWO TWRS APPROX 2 MILES SW OF THE FIELD THAT ARE NOT INDICATED ON THE COMMERCIAL APCH CHARTS. THE MDA IS 2440 AT THIS POINT, AND I BELIEVE THERE IS A SERIOUS RISK TO ACFT BECAUSE THE TWRS ARE ON A HILL AND ALMOST UP TO THE MDA. I ESTIMATE THEY ARE ABOUT 2250 MSL. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE ARPT OPERATOR IT IS CLR LOCAL PLTS KNOW OF THE TWRS, BUT I FEEL QUITE CERTAIN THIS APCH WILL NOT MEET TERPS GUIDELINES AS IT IS CURRENTLY PUBLISHED. I SUGGEST THE FAA SEND AN AIRWAYS INSPECTION ACFT OUT (IN VMC CONDITIONS) AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR IN DESCRIBING THE EVENT STATED, THE ACFT NAVIGATION EQUIP HAD RECENTLY BEEN CHECKED, CONFIRMING THEY WERE TRACKING ON COURSE. THE TWRS WERE RIGHT OF COURSE AND APPEARED TO BE APPROX 2250 FT IN HT. (MSL) A SLIGHT DEVIATION LEFT OF COURSE WAS MADE TO ENSURE ADEQUATE CLRNC. THE RPTR FEELS THE TWRS MAY AFFECT THE VALIDITY/SAFETY OF THE APCH. HE SUGGESTS A CONFORMATION OF THE TWR'S HT BE MADE AND A FLT CHK OF THE AFFECTED APCHES BE CONDUCTED. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO: THE ARPT MGR FOR HORNELL MUN. (4G6), REVEALED, THE TWO TWRS HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR APPROX 6 TO 7 YRS AND ARE LOCATED 1 NM SW OF THE ARPT. THE TWRS WERE QUOTED AS BEING 200 FT HIGH ATOP A 2000 FOOT MSL HILL, MAKING THEM APPROX 2200 FT HIGH (MSL).

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.