Pilot of small aircraft private aircraft deviated from assigned altitude prior to commencing an inst...

Attributes
ACN	238914
Time
Date	199304
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mmu
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2700 msl bound upper : 3100
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90 artcc : zme
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	landing : missed approach other other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 360 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	238914
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 other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : declared emergency other other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

The problem arose by a faulty forecast, low IFR time (as PIC), and equipment malfunction. I was trying to do a VOR approach with low ceilings (forecast for 1200 ft AGL, didn't happen), went missed twice, then went to do ILS at (mmu) and found out the GS (in the plane) wasn't working. In the midst of getting set up for ILS, I went off my altitude by 400 ft. Then the controller asked how much fuel I had after I requested the localizer approach into mmu, I said about I hour and asked for an ASR approach. At the time the controller was very busy and there was a system problem at ewr. So he declared an emergency and sent me toward abe. Then I found a hole and landed at hacketts town (N05). To prevent recurrence of this: don't count so heavily on forecast, get WX en route, check equipment before each flight if possible, carry as much fuel as possible, better cockpit management.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMA PVT ACFT DEVIATED FROM ASSIGNED ALT PRIOR TO COMMENCING AN INST APCH.

Narrative: THE PROB AROSE BY A FAULTY FORECAST, LOW IFR TIME (AS PIC), AND EQUIP MALFUNCTION. I WAS TRYING TO DO A VOR APCH WITH LOW CEILINGS (FORECAST FOR 1200 FT AGL, DIDN'T HAPPEN), WENT MISSED TWICE, THEN WENT TO DO ILS AT (MMU) AND FOUND OUT THE GS (IN THE PLANE) WASN'T WORKING. IN THE MIDST OF GETTING SET UP FOR ILS, I WENT OFF MY ALT BY 400 FT. THEN THE CTLR ASKED HOW MUCH FUEL I HAD AFTER I REQUESTED THE LOC APCH INTO MMU, I SAID ABOUT I HR AND ASKED FOR AN ASR APCH. AT THE TIME THE CTLR WAS VERY BUSY AND THERE WAS A SYS PROB AT EWR. SO HE DECLARED AN EMER AND SENT ME TOWARD ABE. THEN I FOUND A HOLE AND LANDED AT HACKETTS TOWN (N05). TO PREVENT RECURRENCE OF THIS: DON'T COUNT SO HEAVILY ON FORECAST, GET WX ENRTE, CHK EQUIP BEFORE EACH FLT IF POSSIBLE, CARRY AS MUCH FUEL AS POSSIBLE, BETTER COCKPIT MGMNT.

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 small aircraft private aircraft deviated from assigned altitude prior to commencing an instrument approach.