Small aircraft pilot on ILS approach flies through course twice (low altitude alert once). Makes it ...

Attributes
ACN	153993
Time
Date	199008
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : gyy
State Reference	IN
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 600
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ord
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 275 flight time type : 260
ASRS Report	153993
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On an IFR flight to chicago midway, a fuel stop was made at gary municipal airport. Vectored by center for the ILS 30 approach to gary, I flew through the ILS course on 2 occasions and landed on the 3RD. Low altitude alert was issued on one fly through. Unfamiliarity with the area visibility contact with the ground maintained at all times contributed to the missed attempts. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information. Reporter states this was not an emergency landing. Winds were stronger than forecast and landing was strictly precautionary so reserves would be adequate at destination. His major concern was that he had come from canada and was to clear customs at midway. Called after landing and they had no record of his impending arrival. Called 3 times after arriving home. It was suggested he call local customs who took his report. Has heard nothing since.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT ON ILS APCH FLIES THROUGH COURSE TWICE (LOW ALT ALERT ONCE). MAKES IT ON THIRD TRY.

Narrative: ON AN IFR FLT TO CHICAGO MIDWAY, A FUEL STOP WAS MADE AT GARY MUNI ARPT. VECTORED BY CTR FOR THE ILS 30 APCH TO GARY, I FLEW THROUGH THE ILS COURSE ON 2 OCCASIONS AND LANDED ON THE 3RD. LOW ALT ALERT WAS ISSUED ON ONE FLY THROUGH. UNFAMILIARITY WITH THE AREA VIS CONTACT WITH THE GND MAINTAINED AT ALL TIMES CONTRIBUTED TO THE MISSED ATTEMPTS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO. RPTR STATES THIS WAS NOT AN EMER LNDG. WINDS WERE STRONGER THAN FORECAST AND LNDG WAS STRICTLY PRECAUTIONARY SO RESERVES WOULD BE ADEQUATE AT DEST. HIS MAJOR CONCERN WAS THAT HE HAD COME FROM CANADA AND WAS TO CLR CUSTOMS AT MIDWAY. CALLED AFTER LNDG AND THEY HAD NO RECORD OF HIS IMPENDING ARR. CALLED 3 TIMES AFTER ARRIVING HOME. IT WAS SUGGESTED HE CALL LCL CUSTOMS WHO TOOK HIS RPT. HAS HEARD NOTHING SINCE.

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.

Small aircraft pilot on ILS approach flies through course twice (low altitude alert once). Makes it on third try.