Pilot of atx small aircraft aircraft operated below min required altitude due to staying under an ov...

Attributes
ACN	226761
Time
Date	199211
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : oma
State Reference	NE
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : oma
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach descent other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 2550 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	226761
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

En route from fsd to oma, I experienced a vacuum pump failure while in IMC conditions at 4000 ft MSL. I was in contact with omaha approach and explained my situation. My stated intentions were to use the ILS 32L approach to eppley airfield, or if that didn't work, a PAR 30 no-gyroscope approach to 30 at offutt AFB, then SVFR to eppley. As my gyroscope instruments finally tumbled, I decided to forego the ILS and then requested the PAR 3C no-gyroscope to offutt. The controllers were very helpful and I proceeded through the approach without any further problems. Upon breaking out and calling the runway in sight the controller cleared me for the option. I had already stated my intention of SVFR to eppley so I proceeded as planned -- that was the problem. The WX had deteriorated to worse than advertised (approximately 500 scattered with more layers above that). I followed the river (missouri) towards eppley. The low clouds forced me to fly lower than I wanted. I flew between 300-400 ft AGL approximately. This put me uncomfortably close to the various bridges, crossing the river. I finally made it to eppley and landed without any further problems. I feel rather stupid for not landing at offutt when I had the chance. In retrospect, I can see I pushed myself too much to deliver my cargo. I can also see I pushed the rules -- the SVFR was ok, but I was too close to the ground. I think the mechanical problems I dealt with rather easily. This may have boosted my confidence for an 'easy' short VFR hop. In the future I won't push my luck. I'll land while I have the chance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF ATX SMA ACFT OPERATED BELOW MIN REQUIRED ALT DUE TO STAYING UNDER AN OVCST ENRTE TO DEST ARPT AFTER ATC HAD DSNDED THE ACFT TO VFR CONDITIONS.

Narrative: ENRTE FROM FSD TO OMA, I EXPERIENCED A VACUUM PUMP FAILURE WHILE IN IMC CONDITIONS AT 4000 FT MSL. I WAS IN CONTACT WITH OMAHA APCH AND EXPLAINED MY SITUATION. MY STATED INTENTIONS WERE TO USE THE ILS 32L APCH TO EPPLEY AIRFIELD, OR IF THAT DIDN'T WORK, A PAR 30 NO-GYROSCOPE APCH TO 30 AT OFFUTT AFB, THEN SVFR TO EPPLEY. AS MY GYROSCOPE INSTS FINALLY TUMBLED, I DECIDED TO FOREGO THE ILS AND THEN REQUESTED THE PAR 3C NO-GYROSCOPE TO OFFUTT. THE CTLRS WERE VERY HELPFUL AND I PROCEEDED THROUGH THE APCH WITHOUT ANY FURTHER PROBLEMS. UPON BREAKING OUT AND CALLING THE RWY IN SIGHT THE CTLR CLRED ME FOR THE OPTION. I HAD ALREADY STATED MY INTENTION OF SVFR TO EPPLEY SO I PROCEEDED AS PLANNED -- THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. THE WX HAD DETERIORATED TO WORSE THAN ADVERTISED (APPROX 500 SCATTERED WITH MORE LAYERS ABOVE THAT). I FOLLOWED THE RIVER (MISSOURI) TOWARDS EPPLEY. THE LOW CLOUDS FORCED ME TO FLY LOWER THAN I WANTED. I FLEW BTWN 300-400 FT AGL APPROX. THIS PUT ME UNCOMFORTABLY CLOSE TO THE VARIOUS BRIDGES, XING THE RIVER. I FINALLY MADE IT TO EPPLEY AND LANDED WITHOUT ANY FURTHER PROBLEMS. I FEEL RATHER STUPID FOR NOT LNDG AT OFFUTT WHEN I HAD THE CHANCE. IN RETROSPECT, I CAN SEE I PUSHED MYSELF TOO MUCH TO DELIVER MY CARGO. I CAN ALSO SEE I PUSHED THE RULES -- THE SVFR WAS OK, BUT I WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE GND. I THINK THE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS I DEALT WITH RATHER EASILY. THIS MAY HAVE BOOSTED MY CONFIDENCE FOR AN 'EASY' SHORT VFR HOP. IN THE FUTURE I WON'T PUSH MY LUCK. I'LL LAND WHILE I HAVE THE CHANCE.

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.

Pilot of atx small aircraft aircraft operated below min required altitude due to staying under an overcast en route to destination airport after ATC had descended the aircraft to VFR conditions.