<< >> NASA ASRS Report 197920, December 1991

On NDB approach pilot of small aircraft fell out of the bottom of the overcast at 300 AGL proceeded to airport for landing.

Attributes
ACN	197920
Time
Date	199112
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pvg
State Reference	VA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 300 agl bound upper : 600
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : orf
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 1400 flight time type : 32
ASRS Report	197920
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	flight crew : regained aircraft control other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was being vectored to final approach at pvg for NDB #2 by orf approach control. WX conditions in orf were 500 broken, 4 mi and fog. At MDA or slightly higher, I broke out and had visual contact with the airport and runway environment. I planned to make a circling approach to 28. But turned left instead of right. In my turn I entered a cloud and lost ground contact and descended below MDA to approximately 300 ft where I regained ground contact. I was informed by the controller that I had descended below MDA, then I completed my approach. I should have immediately notified the controller upon entering the cloud and executed a missed approach. I plan on getting instrument refreshment instruction.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ON NDB APCH PLT OF SMA FELL OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE OVCST AT 300 AGL PROCEEDED TO ARPT FOR LNDG.

Narrative: I WAS BEING VECTORED TO FINAL APCH AT PVG FOR NDB #2 BY ORF APCH CTL. WX CONDITIONS IN ORF WERE 500 BROKEN, 4 MI AND FOG. AT MDA OR SLIGHTLY HIGHER, I BROKE OUT AND HAD VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE ARPT AND RWY ENVIRONMENT. I PLANNED TO MAKE A CIRCLING APCH TO 28. BUT TURNED L INSTEAD OF R. IN MY TURN I ENTERED A CLOUD AND LOST GND CONTACT AND DSNDED BELOW MDA TO APPROX 300 FT WHERE I REGAINED GND CONTACT. I WAS INFORMED BY THE CTLR THAT I HAD DSNDED BELOW MDA, THEN I COMPLETED MY APCH. I SHOULD HAVE IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED THE CTLR UPON ENTERING THE CLOUD AND EXECUTED A MISSED APCH. I PLAN ON GETTING INST REFRESHMENT INSTRUCTION.

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.