<< >> NASA ASRS Report 593974, September 2003

C421 pilot receives a 'low altitude alert' from the controller during an approach to lou and executes a missed approach.

Attributes
ACN	593974
Time
Date	200309
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lou.airport
State Reference	KY
Altitude	msl single value : 1300
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Rain
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sdf.tracon tower : lou.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Golden Eagle 421
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing : missed approach
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 1647 flight time type : 47
ASRS Report	593974
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	atc equipment : msaw other controllerb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : executed missed approach flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

My approximately 1 hour old updated WX briefing showed a 2000 ft MSL overcast at bowman field. Approach had me at 4000 ft MSL and then cleared me on a vector to descend to 3000 ft until established on the VOR runway 24 approach to bowman field. I intercepted the localizer, descended to 2400 ft MSL, and then to 1300 ft MSL. Both VOR heads were set, and suddenly both indicators moved rapidly to left and right full deflections. I advised tower I wished to go missed approach. I was still in full IMC. I was advised 'low altitude alert.' I immediately climbed. Nothing further was said and I accepted vectors to columbus, in, and VFR conditions. If I was off course, I was unaware of it. I landed at ump in full visual conditions. Neither VOR worked on the return flight. Both had been checked within the previous 30 days with 0 degrees error. Avionics work had been conducted 3 days previously, but I do not know if that was a factor.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C421 PLT RECEIVES A 'LOW ALT ALERT' FROM THE CTLR DURING AN APCH TO LOU AND EXECUTES A MISSED APCH.

Narrative: MY APPROX 1 HR OLD UPDATED WX BRIEFING SHOWED A 2000 FT MSL OVCST AT BOWMAN FIELD. APCH HAD ME AT 4000 FT MSL AND THEN CLRED ME ON A VECTOR TO DSND TO 3000 FT UNTIL ESTABLISHED ON THE VOR RWY 24 APCH TO BOWMAN FIELD. I INTERCEPTED THE LOC, DSNDED TO 2400 FT MSL, AND THEN TO 1300 FT MSL. BOTH VOR HEADS WERE SET, AND SUDDENLY BOTH INDICATORS MOVED RAPIDLY TO L AND R FULL DEFLECTIONS. I ADVISED TWR I WISHED TO GO MISSED APCH. I WAS STILL IN FULL IMC. I WAS ADVISED 'LOW ALT ALERT.' I IMMEDIATELY CLBED. NOTHING FURTHER WAS SAID AND I ACCEPTED VECTORS TO COLUMBUS, IN, AND VFR CONDITIONS. IF I WAS OFF COURSE, I WAS UNAWARE OF IT. I LANDED AT UMP IN FULL VISUAL CONDITIONS. NEITHER VOR WORKED ON THE RETURN FLT. BOTH HAD BEEN CHKED WITHIN THE PREVIOUS 30 DAYS WITH 0 DEGS ERROR. AVIONICS WORK HAD BEEN CONDUCTED 3 DAYS PREVIOUSLY, BUT I DO NOT KNOW IF THAT WAS A FACTOR.

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.