Small aircraft on VOR 9 approach to 17N loses sight of runway, executes a missed approach.

Attributes
ACN	132469
Time
Date	198912
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : phl airport : 17n
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 660 msl bound upper : 660
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phl
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	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 : 1000 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	132469
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : regained aircraft control other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

This incident occurred during a VOR 9 approach to 17N. The WX at phl was reported to 600 scattered, 900 overcast, 4 mi visibility. I was cleared for the approach and began my descent. Upon reaching MDA I made visibility contact with the runway environment. I then began my prelndg checklist, which includes checking the fuel selector, trim indicator, flap indicator and landing gear indicator. All of these are on the floor of my plane, a 1977 small aircraft, so I had to look away from the runway. While I was doing my checks the controller warned me that he showed me below MDA. West/O looking up I told him I was VFR. After completing my prelndg checklist I looked up and was unable to see the runway. I tried momentarily to regain visibility contact with the runway, but then opted for a missed approach. This situation could have been avoided if I had conducted my prelndg checks prior to beginning the approach. Then it would have not been necessary for me to interrupt visibility contact with the runway.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA ON VOR 9 APCH TO 17N LOSES SIGHT OF RWY, EXECUTES A MISSED APCH.

Narrative: THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED DURING A VOR 9 APCH TO 17N. THE WX AT PHL WAS RPTED TO 600 SCATTERED, 900 OVCST, 4 MI VISIBILITY. I WAS CLRED FOR THE APCH AND BEGAN MY DSCNT. UPON REACHING MDA I MADE VIS CONTACT WITH THE RWY ENVIRONMENT. I THEN BEGAN MY PRELNDG CHKLIST, WHICH INCLUDES CHKING THE FUEL SELECTOR, TRIM INDICATOR, FLAP INDICATOR AND LNDG GEAR INDICATOR. ALL OF THESE ARE ON THE FLOOR OF MY PLANE, A 1977 SMA, SO I HAD TO LOOK AWAY FROM THE RWY. WHILE I WAS DOING MY CHKS THE CTLR WARNED ME THAT HE SHOWED ME BELOW MDA. W/O LOOKING UP I TOLD HIM I WAS VFR. AFTER COMPLETING MY PRELNDG CHKLIST I LOOKED UP AND WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE RWY. I TRIED MOMENTARILY TO REGAIN VIS CONTACT WITH THE RWY, BUT THEN OPTED FOR A MISSED APCH. THIS SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF I HAD CONDUCTED MY PRELNDG CHKS PRIOR TO BEGINNING THE APCH. THEN IT WOULD HAVE NOT BEEN NECESSARY FOR ME TO INTERRUPT VIS CONTACT WITH THE RWY.

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.