ILS shutdown and runway change at isp. Small aircraft X not informed.

Attributes
ACN	141491
Time
Date	199004
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ccc
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 470 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	141491
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Inter Facility Coordination Failure other

Narrative:

Small aircraft X en route from atlantic city to islip (ny) I was given a radar vector of 090 degree to intercept the ILS (localizer) runway 6 approach course. Ny TRACON issued the vector to intercept the localizer prior to handing me off to approach control on a different frequency. Approximately 1 min after I was on the vector to the ILS 6 localizer course I lost both G/south and localizer indications. Upon questioning TRACON as to the status of the ILS components I was told that islip tower had shut down ILS 6 for an aircraft who requested ILS 24 due to some WX that he had picked up on his WX radar. The aircraft was established on the ILS 6 when he requested to abandon his approach and request ILS 24. I am confused as to why islip tower did not communicate the status of the ILS 6 approach to ny TRACON prior to giving me a radar vector in IMC (thundershowers, moderate turbulence, and rain) for an approach that was not in use. Possibly better coordination between islip tower and ny TRACON could deter this situation from happening again. Until then, pilots be on guard for phantom ILS approach vectors.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ILS SHUTDOWN AND RWY CHANGE AT ISP. SMA X NOT INFORMED.

Narrative: SMA X ENRTE FROM ATLANTIC CITY TO ISLIP (NY) I WAS GIVEN A RADAR VECTOR OF 090 DEG TO INTERCEPT THE ILS (LOC) RWY 6 APCH COURSE. NY TRACON ISSUED THE VECTOR TO INTERCEPT THE LOC PRIOR TO HANDING ME OFF TO APCH CTL ON A DIFFERENT FREQ. APPROX 1 MIN AFTER I WAS ON THE VECTOR TO THE ILS 6 LOC COURSE I LOST BOTH G/S AND LOC INDICATIONS. UPON QUESTIONING TRACON AS TO THE STATUS OF THE ILS COMPONENTS I WAS TOLD THAT ISLIP TWR HAD SHUT DOWN ILS 6 FOR AN ACFT WHO REQUESTED ILS 24 DUE TO SOME WX THAT HE HAD PICKED UP ON HIS WX RADAR. THE ACFT WAS ESTABLISHED ON THE ILS 6 WHEN HE REQUESTED TO ABANDON HIS APCH AND REQUEST ILS 24. I AM CONFUSED AS TO WHY ISLIP TWR DID NOT COMMUNICATE THE STATUS OF THE ILS 6 APCH TO NY TRACON PRIOR TO GIVING ME A RADAR VECTOR IN IMC (THUNDERSHOWERS, MODERATE TURB, AND RAIN) FOR AN APCH THAT WAS NOT IN USE. POSSIBLY BETTER COORD BTWN ISLIP TWR AND NY TRACON COULD DETER THIS SITUATION FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. UNTIL THEN, PLTS BE ON GUARD FOR PHANTOM ILS APCH VECTORS.

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.