Narrative:

A C208 called R3 for IFR clearance to ogg approximately 7 miles north of koa. Pilot was given clearance to camps but went past it. The pilot was told about the weather at kahului and given vectors for an ILS runway 2 approach per the pilot's request. After being cleared for the approach; the pilot appeared to not be unable to lock on to the localizer and kept making wild swings through it. The pilot was eventually vectored off the localizer; because he/she appeared to be disoriented; and turned southbound. The controller suggested the pilot go back to koa or divert to lny or hnl because those airports were VFR. The pilot said unable because of low fuel; and requested another ILS approach. The pilot was given the approach but appeared to be slightly right or left of center line on the entire approach and did not descend on the glide slope and ended up over the airport at 3;000. The pilot then turned south on what appeared to be a missed approach. When queried about intentions; the pilot said he/she had the airport in sight and wanted to proceed to the airport visually. The aircraft was cleared for a visual approach; but then asked for a vector to VMC. The aircraft was given a vector; but the pilot said that would put her in IFR conditions; and turned east toward higher terrain. The pilot was told repeatedly about the terrain and told to climb and turn southwest; but seemed to be confused about what to do. The pilot finally turned southwest and agreed to go back to koa. When queried about fuel; the pilot said he/she had 300 pounds/40 minutes left. About 35 miles northwest of kona the pilot said he/she was in VFR conditions; cancelled IFR; and left the frequency without advising the controller.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HCF Controller described an event involving a VFR pilot requesting an IFR approach; chronicling a number of 'failure to comply with ATC instructions' instances that compromised safety and posed pilot competency questions.

Narrative: A C208 called R3 for IFR clearance to OGG approximately 7 miles north of KOA. Pilot was given clearance to CAMPS but went past it. The pilot was told about the weather at Kahului and given vectors for an ILS Runway 2 approach per the pilot's request. After being cleared for the approach; the pilot appeared to not be unable to lock on to the localizer and kept making wild swings through it. The pilot was eventually vectored off the localizer; because he/she appeared to be disoriented; and turned southbound. The Controller suggested the pilot go back to KOA or divert to LNY or HNL because those airports were VFR. The pilot said unable because of low fuel; and requested another ILS approach. The pilot was given the approach but appeared to be slightly right or left of center line on the entire approach and did not descend on the glide slope and ended up over the airport at 3;000. The pilot then turned south on what appeared to be a missed approach. When queried about intentions; the pilot said he/she had the airport in sight and wanted to proceed to the airport visually. The aircraft was cleared for a Visual Approach; but then asked for a vector to VMC. The aircraft was given a vector; but the pilot said that would put her in IFR conditions; and turned east toward higher terrain. The pilot was told repeatedly about the terrain and told to climb and turn southwest; but seemed to be confused about what to do. The pilot finally turned southwest and agreed to go back to KOA. When queried about fuel; the pilot said he/she had 300 pounds/40 minutes left. About 35 miles northwest of Kona the pilot said he/she was in VFR conditions; cancelled IFR; and left the frequency without advising the Controller.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.