PA28 instrument rated pilot becomes disoriented in IMC, requiring vectors from approach controller.

Attributes
ACN	637731
Time
Date	200411
Day	Sat
Place
Locale Reference	airport : blm.airport
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl single value : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : a90.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	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : instrument non precision
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 350 flight time type : 5
ASRS Report	637731
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : became reoriented
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I only have about 3 hours of actual time and had never flown solo in IMC before. I got a little disoriented on the VOR approach. I was tired and behind the plane. I was told to stay at 2000 ft until established on the VOR. I turned to the reciprocal of the correct heading and descended down to 1500 ft, then realized I was wrong and should be on the opposite heading and got a little off course. ATC then vectored me to the final approach course to help me out. I think the cause of this problem was being in the clouds for over an hour and being tired from that. Also, the workload for single pilot and my inexperience contributed. I feel to have an instrument rating you should be required a certain amount of time in IMC. This was a good learning experience and next time I'll go with another pilot in IMC, until I feel comfortable enough to go solo.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28 INST RATED PLT BECOMES DISORIENTED IN IMC, REQUIRING VECTORS FROM APCH CTLR.

Narrative: I ONLY HAVE ABOUT 3 HRS OF ACTUAL TIME AND HAD NEVER FLOWN SOLO IN IMC BEFORE. I GOT A LITTLE DISORIENTED ON THE VOR APCH. I WAS TIRED AND BEHIND THE PLANE. I WAS TOLD TO STAY AT 2000 FT UNTIL ESTABLISHED ON THE VOR. I TURNED TO THE RECIPROCAL OF THE CORRECT HDG AND DSNDED DOWN TO 1500 FT, THEN REALIZED I WAS WRONG AND SHOULD BE ON THE OPPOSITE HDG AND GOT A LITTLE OFF COURSE. ATC THEN VECTORED ME TO THE FINAL APCH COURSE TO HELP ME OUT. I THINK THE CAUSE OF THIS PROB WAS BEING IN THE CLOUDS FOR OVER AN HR AND BEING TIRED FROM THAT. ALSO, THE WORKLOAD FOR SINGLE PLT AND MY INEXPERIENCE CONTRIBUTED. I FEEL TO HAVE AN INST RATING YOU SHOULD BE REQUIRED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME IN IMC. THIS WAS A GOOD LEARNING EXPERIENCE AND NEXT TIME I'LL GO WITH ANOTHER PLT IN IMC, UNTIL I FEEL COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO GO SOLO.

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.