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Misinterpreting information on an unfamiliar GPS system; a beechcraft pilot descends early on practice IFR approach.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 697636 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200605 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : cre.airport |
| State Reference | SC |
| Altitude | msl single value : 800 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | Marginal |
| Weather Elements | Rain |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tower : cre.tower |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Beechcraft Single Piston Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Navigation In Use | ils localizer & glide slope : n/s other |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 1650 flight time type : 975 |
| ASRS Report | 697636 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : local |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued advisory flight crew : became reoriented |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
Narrative:
I was on approach and lost position awareness due to several factors. The conditions were VFR so I could see and avoid obstructions or other aircraft; and none were involved. I did however get low on the approach. Contributing factors were a new GPS was being used to monitor the approach and although I had used it before (just for VFR flight) -- this was the first time I used it on an approach. It gave me the distance to the next fix. I had programmed it to give distance to airport; but in the approach mode it gives distance to next fix; so this confused me. I thought I was closer to the airport than I actually was. I also had a glidescope failure at the same time (in the aircraft) but failed to notice the flag until I had gone low on the approach. The controller thankfully was watching me and advised me I was low at the FAF --- not past the FAF as I thought. I was trying to do too much using a new piece of equipment without doing more practice with it in a practice environment. I assumed a higher workload that I should have without additional cockpit resources available. Next time I get a new piece of equipment I will use it in the VFR practice environment prior to trying it in IFR and not let new equipment increase my workload -- instead I will use it to decrease my workload.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: MISINTERPRETING INFO ON AN UNFAMILIAR GPS SYSTEM; A BEECHCRAFT PLT DSNDS EARLY ON PRACTICE IFR APCH.
Narrative: I WAS ON APCH AND LOST POSITION AWARENESS DUE TO SEVERAL FACTORS. THE CONDITIONS WERE VFR SO I COULD SEE AND AVOID OBSTRUCTIONS OR OTHER ACFT; AND NONE WERE INVOLVED. I DID HOWEVER GET LOW ON THE APCH. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE A NEW GPS WAS BEING USED TO MONITOR THE APCH AND ALTHOUGH I HAD USED IT BEFORE (JUST FOR VFR FLT) -- THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I USED IT ON AN APCH. IT GAVE ME THE DISTANCE TO THE NEXT FIX. I HAD PROGRAMMED IT TO GIVE DISTANCE TO ARPT; BUT IN THE APCH MODE IT GIVES DISTANCE TO NEXT FIX; SO THIS CONFUSED ME. I THOUGHT I WAS CLOSER TO THE ARPT THAN I ACTUALLY WAS. I ALSO HAD A GLIDESCOPE FAILURE AT THE SAME TIME (IN THE ACFT) BUT FAILED TO NOTICE THE FLAG UNTIL I HAD GONE LOW ON THE APCH. THE CTLR THANKFULLY WAS WATCHING ME AND ADVISED ME I WAS LOW AT THE FAF --- NOT PAST THE FAF AS I THOUGHT. I WAS TRYING TO DO TOO MUCH USING A NEW PIECE OF EQUIP WITHOUT DOING MORE PRACTICE WITH IT IN A PRACTICE ENVIRONMENT. I ASSUMED A HIGHER WORKLOAD THAT I SHOULD HAVE WITHOUT ADDITIONAL COCKPIT RESOURCES AVAILABLE. NEXT TIME I GET A NEW PIECE OF EQUIP I WILL USE IT IN THE VFR PRACTICE ENVIRONMENT PRIOR TO TRYING IT IN IFR AND NOT LET NEW EQUIP INCREASE MY WORKLOAD -- INSTEAD I WILL USE IT TO DECREASE MY WORKLOAD.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.