Student instructor turn from assigned heading in order to remain VFR.

Attributes
ACN	176069
Time
Date	199104
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ccr
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : suu
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 1675 flight time type : 117
ASRS Report	176096
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

During a practice NDB approach into ccr, the controllers issued us a vector of 270 degrees for radar vectors to the final approach course. After turning to 270 degrees, I realized that we would not be able to maintain VFR on that heading and we turned to 210 degrees to maintain VFR. After turning, we tried twice to contact the controller and he was stepped on. This frequency (119.9) was very congested with what sounded like aircraft requesting VFR advisories. A short time after our second attempt to contact approach, the controller came back on and asked us what heading we were flying, and we advised him of 210 degrees. This created no problem, although the approach did seem upset with the heading change. Some contributing factors were the congested frequency and our inability to contact approach to advise them of the heading change. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: asked reporter if he had been instructed to maintain VFR when approach control agreed to his practice NDB approach. He was a little reluctant to answer until analyst explained that if he had been so instructed, turning as he did was proper. On the other hand, if he had not, he was in effect on an IFR flight plan and should not have turned. He said he thought he had been instructed to maintain VFR.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: STUDENT INSTRUCTOR TURN FROM ASSIGNED HEADING IN ORDER TO REMAIN VFR.

Narrative: DURING A PRACTICE NDB APCH INTO CCR, THE CTLRS ISSUED US A VECTOR OF 270 DEGS FOR RADAR VECTORS TO THE FINAL APCH COURSE. AFTER TURNING TO 270 DEGS, I REALIZED THAT WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN VFR ON THAT HDG AND WE TURNED TO 210 DEGS TO MAINTAIN VFR. AFTER TURNING, WE TRIED TWICE TO CONTACT THE CTLR AND HE WAS STEPPED ON. THIS FREQ (119.9) WAS VERY CONGESTED WITH WHAT SOUNDED LIKE ACFT REQUESTING VFR ADVISORIES. A SHORT TIME AFTER OUR SECOND ATTEMPT TO CONTACT APCH, THE CTLR CAME BACK ON AND ASKED US WHAT HDG WE WERE FLYING, AND WE ADVISED HIM OF 210 DEGS. THIS CREATED NO PROB, ALTHOUGH THE APCH DID SEEM UPSET WITH THE HDG CHANGE. SOME CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE CONGESTED FREQ AND OUR INABILITY TO CONTACT APCH TO ADVISE THEM OF THE HDG CHANGE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: ASKED RPTR IF HE HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN VFR WHEN APCH CTL AGREED TO HIS PRACTICE NDB APCH. HE WAS A LITTLE RELUCTANT TO ANSWER UNTIL ANALYST EXPLAINED THAT IF HE HAD BEEN SO INSTRUCTED, TURNING AS HE DID WAS PROPER. ON THE OTHER HAND, IF HE HAD NOT, HE WAS IN EFFECT ON AN IFR FLT PLAN AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TURNED. HE SAID HE THOUGHT HE HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN VFR.

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.