C172 pilot has a track heading deviation during approach; executes missed approach and diverts for l...

Attributes
ACN	719107
Time
Date	200606
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bvy.airport
State Reference	MA
Altitude	msl single value : 800
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : a90.tracon tower : bvy.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	ils localizer only : 5 other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : instrument precision
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 360 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	719107
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	controller : local
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : executed missed approach
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

During the flight; I had been using GPS navigation on the #1 obs; and the obs has a selector switch to determine the navigation source (navigation radio or GPS). When preparing for the approach (localizer 16); I failed to switch the selector from GPS back to navigation. Because of the current GPS setting; the needle appeared normal; but it seemed to take a long time to establish on the localizer. After being mostly established; I began the descent to the final segment altitude. Soon; bvy tower called me to advise me that I was well right of the localizer; and to ask my intentions. At that time; I executed a missed approach; realized the error; and corrected the selector switch setting. Unfortunately; during miss execution; the airport ceiling lowered to a point where the approach was not practical. Proceeded to a nearby airport (lwn); but had to shoot the ILS 5 twice to get in.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 PLT HAS A TRACK HDG DEV DURING APCH; EXECUTES MISSED APCH AND DIVERTS FOR LNDG.

Narrative: DURING THE FLT; I HAD BEEN USING GPS NAV ON THE #1 OBS; AND THE OBS HAS A SELECTOR SWITCH TO DETERMINE THE NAV SOURCE (NAV RADIO OR GPS). WHEN PREPARING FOR THE APCH (LOC 16); I FAILED TO SWITCH THE SELECTOR FROM GPS BACK TO NAV. BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT GPS SETTING; THE NEEDLE APPEARED NORMAL; BUT IT SEEMED TO TAKE A LONG TIME TO ESTABLISH ON THE LOC. AFTER BEING MOSTLY ESTABLISHED; I BEGAN THE DSCNT TO THE FINAL SEGMENT ALT. SOON; BVY TWR CALLED ME TO ADVISE ME THAT I WAS WELL R OF THE LOC; AND TO ASK MY INTENTIONS. AT THAT TIME; I EXECUTED A MISSED APCH; REALIZED THE ERROR; AND CORRECTED THE SELECTOR SWITCH SETTING. UNFORTUNATELY; DURING MISS EXECUTION; THE ARPT CEILING LOWERED TO A POINT WHERE THE APCH WAS NOT PRACTICAL. PROCEEDED TO A NEARBY ARPT (LWN); BUT HAD TO SHOOT THE ILS 5 TWICE TO GET IN.

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.

C172 pilot has a track heading deviation during approach; executes missed approach and diverts for landing.