Narrative:

On IFR flight plan dta to ely, direct at 22000'. Cleared to descend to 14000' using outbnd dta 255 degree right. Before reaching, ATC asked my choice of approachs as airport is below ATC radar coverage. I selected ely VOR a as I expected visibility approach, or at least breakout considerably above minimums (2545' AGL). Ely airport is in valley with 12000' mountains to the east. The approach would allow me to proceed direct ely and probably break out before procedure turn. Other possible approach was VOR DME C, which would require flying 16 NM north of airport for DME arc. I was immediately cleared for approach. I then realized I was not receiving ely, then lost dta. Should have missed, but continued on current heading. Finally got ely, but broke out simultaneously, so cancelled and landed. Observations: 1) should not have accepted approach not receiving NAVAID. 2) approach should be flight-checked from the east, and either an acceptable transition found or the chart noted unusable from the east (all of the lcls know this!). At least note how far east it is usable. 3) in interim, ATC should not assign this approach from east until receiving ely or (preferably) recommend VOR DME C approach. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: I should have ely reception established before accepting a clearance to approach. It took me 6 or 8 mins to receive ely VOR. I was on instruments and picking up some icing. There were thunderstorms to west and around ely, so I felt that I was rapidly flying into difficulties with no contact with ely. My RNAV was taking me to ely, so I had some confidence that I was not lost. Feel that the charts should warn pilots that the ely VOR is not reliable east of ely.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMT CLEARED FOR APCH TO ELY FROM 14000' LOST DTA VOR RECEPTION AND UNABLE READ ELY VOR. REGAINED ELY VOR AND MADE APCH.

Narrative: ON IFR FLT PLAN DTA TO ELY, DIRECT AT 22000'. CLRED TO DSND TO 14000' USING OUTBND DTA 255 DEG R. BEFORE REACHING, ATC ASKED MY CHOICE OF APCHS AS ARPT IS BELOW ATC RADAR COVERAGE. I SELECTED ELY VOR A AS I EXPECTED VIS APCH, OR AT LEAST BREAKOUT CONSIDERABLY ABOVE MINIMUMS (2545' AGL). ELY ARPT IS IN VALLEY WITH 12000' MOUNTAINS TO THE E. THE APCH WOULD ALLOW ME TO PROCEED DIRECT ELY AND PROBABLY BREAK OUT BEFORE PROC TURN. OTHER POSSIBLE APCH WAS VOR DME C, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE FLYING 16 NM N OF ARPT FOR DME ARC. I WAS IMMEDIATELY CLRED FOR APCH. I THEN REALIZED I WAS NOT RECEIVING ELY, THEN LOST DTA. SHOULD HAVE MISSED, BUT CONTINUED ON CURRENT HDG. FINALLY GOT ELY, BUT BROKE OUT SIMULTANEOUSLY, SO CANCELLED AND LANDED. OBSERVATIONS: 1) SHOULD NOT HAVE ACCEPTED APCH NOT RECEIVING NAVAID. 2) APCH SHOULD BE FLT-CHKED FROM THE E, AND EITHER AN ACCEPTABLE TRANSITION FOUND OR THE CHART NOTED UNUSABLE FROM THE E (ALL OF THE LCLS KNOW THIS!). AT LEAST NOTE HOW FAR E IT IS USABLE. 3) IN INTERIM, ATC SHOULD NOT ASSIGN THIS APCH FROM E UNTIL RECEIVING ELY OR (PREFERABLY) RECOMMEND VOR DME C APCH. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: I SHOULD HAVE ELY RECEPTION ESTABLISHED BEFORE ACCEPTING A CLRNC TO APCH. IT TOOK ME 6 OR 8 MINS TO RECEIVE ELY VOR. I WAS ON INSTRUMENTS AND PICKING UP SOME ICING. THERE WERE TSTMS TO W AND AROUND ELY, SO I FELT THAT I WAS RAPIDLY FLYING INTO DIFFICULTIES WITH NO CONTACT WITH ELY. MY RNAV WAS TAKING ME TO ELY, SO I HAD SOME CONFIDENCE THAT I WAS NOT LOST. FEEL THAT THE CHARTS SHOULD WARN PLTS THAT THE ELY VOR IS NOT RELIABLE E OF ELY.

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.