Simulated instrument flight. GA pilot had many heading deviations in flight from santa monica to petaluma. Missed approach at petaluma. Both ZOA and ZLA controllers gave assistance and advice.

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Attributes
ACN	109082
Time
Date	198904
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : o69
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1080 msl bound upper : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla artcc : zoa
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach landing : missed approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 750 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	109082
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was on an IFR flight plan from santa monica to petaluma. We were VFR on top practicing partial panel. I can see the necessity of this kind of practice as in the initial stages the tendency to wander off course was pronounced. ZLA was helpful, but probably wondering who the drunken airplane was as they let me know I appeared to be taking up more than my share of sky. After reaching petaluma and executing a missed approach as petaluma was below IFR minimums, a misinterp of the procedure elicited more help from ZOA while we were again VFR on top. Both ZLA and ZOA worked with me as I tried to enhance my proficiency. It sure beats the big stick attitude.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SIMULATED INSTRUMENT FLT. GA PLT HAD MANY HEADING DEVIATIONS IN FLT FROM SANTA MONICA TO PETALUMA. MISSED APCH AT PETALUMA. BOTH ZOA AND ZLA CTLRS GAVE ASSISTANCE AND ADVICE.

Narrative: I WAS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN FROM SANTA MONICA TO PETALUMA. WE WERE VFR ON TOP PRACTICING PARTIAL PANEL. I CAN SEE THE NECESSITY OF THIS KIND OF PRACTICE AS IN THE INITIAL STAGES THE TENDENCY TO WANDER OFF COURSE WAS PRONOUNCED. ZLA WAS HELPFUL, BUT PROBABLY WONDERING WHO THE DRUNKEN AIRPLANE WAS AS THEY LET ME KNOW I APPEARED TO BE TAKING UP MORE THAN MY SHARE OF SKY. AFTER REACHING PETALUMA AND EXECUTING A MISSED APCH AS PETALUMA WAS BELOW IFR MINIMUMS, A MISINTERP OF THE PROC ELICITED MORE HELP FROM ZOA WHILE WE WERE AGAIN VFR ON TOP. BOTH ZLA AND ZOA WORKED WITH ME AS I TRIED TO ENHANCE MY PROFICIENCY. IT SURE BEATS THE BIG STICK ATTITUDE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.