Track deviation. Controlled flight toward terrain.

Attributes
ACN	125790
Time
Date	198910
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : flg
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 2000 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	125790
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Cleared for NDB-DME approach at flg. Flew VOR outbnd to frisy intersection, made teardrop entry to published hold as procedure turn. Intersection is 15.1 DME/049 degree from flg, 278 degree radial from inw. No problem outbnd, but I was not receiving a good signal from inw, and discovered rather suddenly that I was fixating on the DME and neglecting the flg VOR and NDB to find frisy and turn inbound. My teardrop/procedure turn was sloppy enough that 15.1 DME from flg was not possible on my 278 degree heading. I realized this just before center asked if I was going to turn at frisy or the san francisco peaks. I turned inbound immediately, and after a few seconds of trying to get reoriented, flew the approach. Ceiling was well above minimums, but light (mixed) icing did not add to my peace of mind. I do not have much IMC experience, because IMC at flg usually includes ice, and is not compatible with an small aircraft. I passed instrument competency check about 6 weeks ago but almost no instrument time otherwise.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TRACK DEVIATION. CONTROLLED FLT TOWARD TERRAIN.

Narrative: CLRED FOR NDB-DME APCH AT FLG. FLEW VOR OUTBND TO FRISY INTXN, MADE TEARDROP ENTRY TO PUBLISHED HOLD AS PROC TURN. INTXN IS 15.1 DME/049 DEG FROM FLG, 278 DEG RADIAL FROM INW. NO PROBLEM OUTBND, BUT I WAS NOT RECEIVING A GOOD SIGNAL FROM INW, AND DISCOVERED RATHER SUDDENLY THAT I WAS FIXATING ON THE DME AND NEGLECTING THE FLG VOR AND NDB TO FIND FRISY AND TURN INBND. MY TEARDROP/PROC TURN WAS SLOPPY ENOUGH THAT 15.1 DME FROM FLG WAS NOT POSSIBLE ON MY 278 DEG HDG. I REALIZED THIS JUST BEFORE CENTER ASKED IF I WAS GOING TO TURN AT FRISY OR THE SAN FRANCISCO PEAKS. I TURNED INBND IMMEDIATELY, AND AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF TRYING TO GET REORIENTED, FLEW THE APCH. CEILING WAS WELL ABOVE MINIMUMS, BUT LIGHT (MIXED) ICING DID NOT ADD TO MY PEACE OF MIND. I DO NOT HAVE MUCH IMC EXPERIENCE, BECAUSE IMC AT FLG USUALLY INCLUDES ICE, AND IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH AN SMA. I PASSED INSTRUMENT COMPETENCY CHECK ABOUT 6 WEEKS AGO BUT ALMOST NO INSTRUMENT TIME OTHERWISE.

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.