GA pilot in small aircraft lost sight of the runway during a visual approach to mfd and made a go ar...

Attributes
ACN	137866
Time
Date	199002
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mfd
State Reference	OR
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : mfd
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 9 flight time total : 114 flight time type : 77
ASRS Report	137866
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After returning from x-country flight I called mansfield and told them I would be landing. I was given a right-hand traffic pattern to runway 23. I entered downwind and was cleared to land. When turned base I was turning to the right in a high wing plane small aircraft. When I rolled out I lost sight of the runway. I told the tower this and requested to go around. I was given a go around to runway 23, this time with a left-hand traffic pattern. I then landed without incident. As soon as I realized I was off the runway centerline, by at least 45 degree, I started my go around. I lost sight of the runway while it was blocked by the right wing. I made the go around with no problem. The tower called the FBO and informed them of this. I was met on the ramp by an employee that got very 'smart' with me. Later phone conversations with the owner cleared it up, although they wanted to see my logbook license and medical. I am filling this out in case the tower reports this also I have scheduled more dual time to work on this problem. The FBO said the tower said 'I was below the trees on the approach.' I don't feel I was this low as I could see the tower and intersecting runway at all times.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA PLT IN SMA LOST SIGHT OF THE RWY DURING A VISUAL APCH TO MFD AND MADE A GO AROUND. TWR REPORTED TO FBO THAT THE ACFT WAS BELOW TREE LEVEL BEFORE TREE LEVEL BEFORE THE GO AROUND.

Narrative: AFTER RETURNING FROM X-COUNTRY FLT I CALLED MANSFIELD AND TOLD THEM I WOULD BE LNDG. I WAS GIVEN A RIGHT-HAND TFC PATTERN TO RWY 23. I ENTERED DOWNWIND AND WAS CLRED TO LAND. WHEN TURNED BASE I WAS TURNING TO THE RIGHT IN A HIGH WING PLANE SMA. WHEN I ROLLED OUT I LOST SIGHT OF THE RWY. I TOLD THE TWR THIS AND REQUESTED TO GO AROUND. I WAS GIVEN A GO AROUND TO RWY 23, THIS TIME WITH A LEFT-HAND TFC PATTERN. I THEN LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. AS SOON AS I REALIZED I WAS OFF THE RWY CENTERLINE, BY AT LEAST 45 DEG, I STARTED MY GO AROUND. I LOST SIGHT OF THE RWY WHILE IT WAS BLOCKED BY THE RIGHT WING. I MADE THE GO AROUND WITH NO PROBLEM. THE TWR CALLED THE FBO AND INFORMED THEM OF THIS. I WAS MET ON THE RAMP BY AN EMPLOYEE THAT GOT VERY 'SMART' WITH ME. LATER PHONE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE OWNER CLRED IT UP, ALTHOUGH THEY WANTED TO SEE MY LOGBOOK LICENSE AND MEDICAL. I AM FILLING THIS OUT IN CASE THE TWR REPORTS THIS ALSO I HAVE SCHEDULED MORE DUAL TIME TO WORK ON THIS PROBLEM. THE FBO SAID THE TWR SAID 'I WAS BELOW THE TREES ON THE APCH.' I DON'T FEEL I WAS THIS LOW AS I COULD SEE THE TWR AND INTERSECTING RWY AT ALL TIMES.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.

GA pilot in small aircraft lost sight of the runway during a visual approach to mfd and made a go around. Tower reported to FBO that the aircraft was below tree level before tree level before the go around.