Mtt on NDB approach in VMC with runway in sight was advised 3 mi off track by ATC. Deviation denied ...

Attributes
ACN	121137
Time
Date	198908
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : osu
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : cmh
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other landing other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	121137
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	other physical facility

Narrative:

As a general practice, cmh approach control routes traffic going into osu, coming from the south, to the east and north of cmh and turns them in on the NDB 27L approach for osu. We were being vectored by cmh approach at 3000' MSL when we were given a heading of 300 degrees. We were then issued the following clearance: '(light transport) on the 300 degree heading, intercept the NDB 27L approach course, cleared for the NDB 27L at osu.' we acknowledged the clearance. We had the NDB set for the approach (tuned and idented) and were using our area navigation set on osu as a back-up reference. Shortly after he (controller) issued the approach clearance, both our #1 RMI needles (set on the NDB at osu) and our RNAV indicated we were intercepting the inbound course of 276 degrees. I turned to 276 degrees. Within 15-20 seconds after I turned, the controller asked if we were on the 300 degree heading. The PNF said we had been cleared for the approach and were tracking inbound. The controller said, 'turn right, turn right!!' I, as captain, asked the controller what the problem was. He said we were 3 mi south of course. I told him we were showing on course and the 27L runway at osu was in sight. The other runway at osu (9R) is served by an ILS. If cmh approach is going to vector aircraft onto the 27L approach course, which is in close proximity to cmh (the main airport), it should have a more accurate approach than the NDB to 276. This is about the fourth or fifth time I have heard cmh approach tell aircraft they are showing them north or south of course while on the 27L approach. Possibly their radar is poorly aligned in that sector also.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MTT ON NDB APCH IN VMC WITH RWY IN SIGHT WAS ADVISED 3 MI OFF TRACK BY ATC. DEVIATION DENIED CITING POSSIBLE RADAR MISALIGNMENT AND OTHER SIMILAR OCCURRENCES.

Narrative: AS A GENERAL PRACTICE, CMH APCH CTL ROUTES TFC GOING INTO OSU, COMING FROM THE S, TO THE E AND N OF CMH AND TURNS THEM IN ON THE NDB 27L APCH FOR OSU. WE WERE BEING VECTORED BY CMH APCH AT 3000' MSL WHEN WE WERE GIVEN A HDG OF 300 DEGS. WE WERE THEN ISSUED THE FOLLOWING CLRNC: '(LTT) ON THE 300 DEG HDG, INTERCEPT THE NDB 27L APCH COURSE, CLRED FOR THE NDB 27L AT OSU.' WE ACKNOWLEDGED THE CLRNC. WE HAD THE NDB SET FOR THE APCH (TUNED AND IDENTED) AND WERE USING OUR AREA NAV SET ON OSU AS A BACK-UP REF. SHORTLY AFTER HE (CTLR) ISSUED THE APCH CLRNC, BOTH OUR #1 RMI NEEDLES (SET ON THE NDB AT OSU) AND OUR RNAV INDICATED WE WERE INTERCEPTING THE INBND COURSE OF 276 DEGS. I TURNED TO 276 DEGS. WITHIN 15-20 SECS AFTER I TURNED, THE CTLR ASKED IF WE WERE ON THE 300 DEG HDG. THE PNF SAID WE HAD BEEN CLRED FOR THE APCH AND WERE TRACKING INBND. THE CTLR SAID, 'TURN RIGHT, TURN RIGHT!!' I, AS CAPT, ASKED THE CTLR WHAT THE PROB WAS. HE SAID WE WERE 3 MI S OF COURSE. I TOLD HIM WE WERE SHOWING ON COURSE AND THE 27L RWY AT OSU WAS IN SIGHT. THE OTHER RWY AT OSU (9R) IS SERVED BY AN ILS. IF CMH APCH IS GOING TO VECTOR ACFT ONTO THE 27L APCH COURSE, WHICH IS IN CLOSE PROX TO CMH (THE MAIN ARPT), IT SHOULD HAVE A MORE ACCURATE APCH THAN THE NDB TO 276. THIS IS ABOUT THE FOURTH OR FIFTH TIME I HAVE HEARD CMH APCH TELL ACFT THEY ARE SHOWING THEM N OR S OF COURSE WHILE ON THE 27L APCH. POSSIBLY THEIR RADAR IS POORLY ALIGNED IN THAT SECTOR ALSO.

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.

Mtt on NDB approach in VMC with runway in sight was advised 3 mi off track by ATC. Deviation denied citing possible radar misalignment and other similar occurrences.