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C421 pilot became distracted after momentarily switching frequencies to activate runway lighting and began a visual approach without coordination with ATC. When contact was reestablished; ATC provided a low altitude warning to the pilot.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1297342 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201509 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801-2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Golden Eagle 421 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Initial Approach |
| Route In Use | Direct Visual Approach |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Air/Ground Communication |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Single Pilot Pilot Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 35 Flight Crew Total 4950 Flight Crew Type 272 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT |
Narrative:
In visible conditions but on ILS clearance to maintain 2400 until established. I briefly switched transmit to CTAF to key the runway lights and was distracted by the fact I couldn't get the runway lights to come on. Did get them to come on and began a visual descent realizing I had not called the field in sight and cancelled with ATC. I switched transmit frequencies back to cancel realizing I had not had ATC on receive while I was keying the pilot controlled lighting (pilot controlled lighting). ATC had been trying to reach me to give me a low altitude warning. The lesson here is to tell ATC I am visual but need to switch frequencies to key the pilot controlled lighting. Additionally; make certain I have cancelled and coordinated with ATC before beginning a visual descent.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: C421 pilot became distracted after momentarily switching frequencies to activate runway lighting and began a visual approach without coordination with ATC. When contact was reestablished; ATC provided a low altitude warning to the pilot.
Narrative: In visible conditions but on ILS clearance to maintain 2400 until established. I briefly switched transmit to CTAF to key the runway lights and was distracted by the fact I couldn't get the runway lights to come on. Did get them to come on and began a visual descent realizing I had not called the field in sight and cancelled with ATC. I switched transmit frequencies back to cancel realizing I had not had ATC on receive while I was keying the pilot controlled lighting (PCL). ATC had been trying to reach me to give me a low altitude warning. The lesson here is to tell ATC I am visual but need to switch frequencies to key the PCL. Additionally; make certain I have cancelled and coordinated with ATC before beginning a visual descent.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.