Lost on visual approach. Airman certificate not in possession. Unable callback.

Attributes
ACN	113027
Time
Date	198906
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pmd
State Reference	CA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : edw artcc : zse
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	arrival other enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 61 flight time total : 2775 flight time type : 28
ASRS Report	113027
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : unable other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Today, jun/sun/89, I left santa monica airport on an IFR flight plan at approximately xa in an small aircraft. My clearance was as follows: fly runway heading at la 305 radial, right turn heading 250, radar vectors to victor 165 victor 518 palmdale direct, maintain 3000 expect 7000 in 5 minutes, departure frequency 125.20 squawk XXXX. As I approached lancaster at 7000', I was in VFR conditions. The controller asked me if I wanted a visual approach. I responded 'affirmative'. As I got closer to what I thought was fox field, I looked at my DME, and my approach plate, and confirmed in my mind that I had passed the airport. I then made a few shallow 30 degree turns. At the time I was talking with edwards approach on 126.10. They understood I was lost and told me to make a 360 degree turn to the right. After that he told me to continue circling. After that he told me to turn to 230. I turned to 230 which put me on a 5 mi final for runway 24, and I made a normal landing. When I was on the ground, ground control told me to contact the FSS, I did. The person at the FSS asked me for my airmen certificate. I did not have them in my possession.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LOST ON VISUAL APCH. AIRMAN CERTIFICATE NOT IN POSSESSION. UNABLE CALLBACK.

Narrative: TODAY, JUN/SUN/89, I LEFT SANTA MONICA ARPT ON AN IFR FLT PLAN AT APPROX XA IN AN SMA. MY CLRNC WAS AS FOLLOWS: FLY RWY HDG AT LA 305 RADIAL, RIGHT TURN HDG 250, RADAR VECTORS TO VICTOR 165 VICTOR 518 PALMDALE DIRECT, MAINTAIN 3000 EXPECT 7000 IN 5 MINUTES, DEP FREQ 125.20 SQUAWK XXXX. AS I APCHED LANCASTER AT 7000', I WAS IN VFR CONDITIONS. THE CTLR ASKED ME IF I WANTED A VISUAL APCH. I RESPONDED 'AFFIRMATIVE'. AS I GOT CLOSER TO WHAT I THOUGHT WAS FOX FIELD, I LOOKED AT MY DME, AND MY APCH PLATE, AND CONFIRMED IN MY MIND THAT I HAD PASSED THE ARPT. I THEN MADE A FEW SHALLOW 30 DEG TURNS. AT THE TIME I WAS TALKING WITH EDWARDS APCH ON 126.10. THEY UNDERSTOOD I WAS LOST AND TOLD ME TO MAKE A 360 DEG TURN TO THE RIGHT. AFTER THAT HE TOLD ME TO CONTINUE CIRCLING. AFTER THAT HE TOLD ME TO TURN TO 230. I TURNED TO 230 WHICH PUT ME ON A 5 MI FINAL FOR RWY 24, AND I MADE A NORMAL LNDG. WHEN I WAS ON THE GND, GND CTL TOLD ME TO CONTACT THE FSS, I DID. THE PERSON AT THE FSS ASKED ME FOR MY AIRMEN CERTIFICATE. I DID NOT HAVE THEM IN MY POSSESSION.

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.