Small transport X was cleared for and executed an ILS approach on an inoperative localizer.

Attributes
ACN	141698
Time
Date	199004
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : etb
State Reference	WI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2900 msl bound upper : 2900
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mke
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 49 flight time total : 2826
ASRS Report	141698
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Small transport X IFR to etb. Although etb localizer had been reported OTS for several months, I did not note it on my duat WX brief so I thought it had been repaired. Nearing west bend, wi (etb), milwaukee approach gave me vectors and said to expect the localizer 31 approach. Tuning in the etb frequency gave me no flag and a seemingly active needle. The vectoring continued and the controller apologized for sending me through the final approach course and gave me an intercept 180 turn. I told him my instrument showed me about on course. He asked if I wanted to turn inbound. I said 'yes' and he cleared me for the approach. Heading inbound with needle centered I started to descend and broke out to VFR after only about 500' or 600'. The needle was still nearly centered but I was at least 1/2 to 3/4 mi off the runway centerline. After landing and closing my flight plan, the airport operator told me that the localizer was still OTS! Although no evasive action was necessary and WX wasn't really a problem and my receiver was working ok, an approach to and inoperative facility was cleared. I have no idea why I got any signal at all.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMT X WAS CLEARED FOR AND EXECUTED AN ILS APCH ON AN INOPERATIVE LOC.

Narrative: SMT X IFR TO ETB. ALTHOUGH ETB LOC HAD BEEN REPORTED OTS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, I DID NOT NOTE IT ON MY DUAT WX BRIEF SO I THOUGHT IT HAD BEEN REPAIRED. NEARING WEST BEND, WI (ETB), MILWAUKEE APCH GAVE ME VECTORS AND SAID TO EXPECT THE LOC 31 APCH. TUNING IN THE ETB FREQ GAVE ME NO FLAG AND A SEEMINGLY ACTIVE NEEDLE. THE VECTORING CONTINUED AND THE CTLR APOLOGIZED FOR SENDING ME THROUGH THE FINAL APCH COURSE AND GAVE ME AN INTERCEPT 180 TURN. I TOLD HIM MY INSTRUMENT SHOWED ME ABOUT ON COURSE. HE ASKED IF I WANTED TO TURN INBND. I SAID 'YES' AND HE CLRED ME FOR THE APCH. HDG INBND WITH NEEDLE CENTERED I STARTED TO DSND AND BROKE OUT TO VFR AFTER ONLY ABOUT 500' OR 600'. THE NEEDLE WAS STILL NEARLY CENTERED BUT I WAS AT LEAST 1/2 TO 3/4 MI OFF THE RWY CENTERLINE. AFTER LNDG AND CLOSING MY FLT PLAN, THE ARPT OPERATOR TOLD ME THAT THE LOC WAS STILL OTS! ALTHOUGH NO EVASIVE ACTION WAS NECESSARY AND WX WASN'T REALLY A PROBLEM AND MY RECEIVER WAS WORKING OK, AN APCH TO AND INOP FAC WAS CLRED. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY I GOT ANY SIGNAL AT ALL.

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.