Pilot of small aircraft received clearance and questionable approval to use 'non approved for IFR fl...

Attributes
ACN	119444
Time
Date	198908
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mcw airport : alo
State Reference	IA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zmp tower : alo
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 34 flight time total : 3800 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	119444
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Based on visibility contact with line at 11000' and storm scope, we requested and received amended clearance to mason city. Tuned in VOR. Reported no reception. Center said VOR OTS and gave us a radar vector. We said we had non IFR approved LORAN on board and would take headings from that, provided center waved approval and would monitor position. Center approved. Course took us IFR between thunderstorms. We did have light rain and light to moderate turbulence. During our descent center announced radar contact lost, cleared direct mason city, report field in sight. We continued on course, using NDB at OM for primary navigation purposes. As we approached the field it became apparent mason city wa on the eastern edge of the line and would be overrun by thunderstorms before we could land, refuel and takeoff. We reported field in sight and requested clearance to waterloo, ia. We were cleared direct. Requested deviation to a heading of 90 degrees to avoid small cell. We deviated immediate for perhaps 5-10 mins, then proceeded direct waterloo. Don't recall center approving deviation. (Fuel reserves not a problem.)

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMA RECEIVED CLRNC AND QUESTIONABLE APPROVAL TO USE 'NON APPROVED FOR IFR FLT' LORAN TO FLY DIRECT.

Narrative: BASED ON VIS CONTACT WITH LINE AT 11000' AND STORM SCOPE, WE REQUESTED AND RECEIVED AMENDED CLRNC TO MASON CITY. TUNED IN VOR. RPTED NO RECEPTION. CENTER SAID VOR OTS AND GAVE US A RADAR VECTOR. WE SAID WE HAD NON IFR APPROVED LORAN ON BOARD AND WOULD TAKE HDGS FROM THAT, PROVIDED CENTER WAVED APPROVAL AND WOULD MONITOR POS. CENTER APPROVED. COURSE TOOK US IFR BTWN TSTMS. WE DID HAVE LIGHT RAIN AND LIGHT TO MODERATE TURB. DURING OUR DSCNT CENTER ANNOUNCED RADAR CONTACT LOST, CLRED DIRECT MASON CITY, RPT FIELD IN SIGHT. WE CONTINUED ON COURSE, USING NDB AT OM FOR PRIMARY NAV PURPOSES. AS WE APCHED THE FIELD IT BECAME APPARENT MASON CITY WA ON THE EASTERN EDGE OF THE LINE AND WOULD BE OVERRUN BY TSTMS BEFORE WE COULD LAND, REFUEL AND TKOF. WE RPTED FIELD IN SIGHT AND REQUESTED CLRNC TO WATERLOO, IA. WE WERE CLRED DIRECT. REQUESTED DEVIATION TO A HDG OF 90 DEGS TO AVOID SMALL CELL. WE DEVIATED IMMEDIATE FOR PERHAPS 5-10 MINS, THEN PROCEEDED DIRECT WATERLOO. DON'T RECALL CENTER APPROVING DEVIATION. (FUEL RESERVES NOT A PROB.)

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.

Pilot of small aircraft received clearance and questionable approval to use 'non approved for IFR flight' LORAN to fly direct.