Air taxi aircraft leaves airway to intercept final approach course when cleared for VOR approach.

Attributes
ACN	260792
Time
Date	199401
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bzn
State Reference	MT
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute airway : zlc
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 400 flight time total : 3700 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	260792
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was proceeding to bzn on V86 when ZLC cleared me for the VOR runway 12 in bzn. The proper way to execute this approach is to proceed to bzn VOR, which is where IAF is located. Instead I deviated from the airway (V86) and proceeded to intercept the inbound course of the approach which was 101 degrees magnetic heading. I feel there are 3 reasons why this happened. First, the controller was not clear in his instructions. His last words were 'cleared for the runway 12 approach.' I know this is legitimate instructions, however I am used to most controllers giving me instructions like 'cleared for the VOR runway 12 approach via V86 airway.' second I believe I wasn't paying attention like I should have been. I know all approachs are executed beginning with IAF, but I neglected the term 'IAF' and decided to take a short cut to the final approach heading. Third, I figured I could maintain terrain clearance (VFR) and there really wasn't a need to execute the approach as published. I tried to cancel IFR but some other pilot transmitted over my voice. Then center came back and asked me what I was doing. I told them that I was proceeding inbound on the 101 degree radial and that I am VFR and want to cancel IFR. They called me and were very nice. I don't think they'll do anything but I gave them a big scare. I've learned my lesson not to deviate and to execute all approachs starting at IAF. It won't happen again.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AIR TAXI ACFT LEAVES AIRWAY TO INTERCEPT FINAL APCH COURSE WHEN CLRED FOR VOR APCH.

Narrative: I WAS PROCEEDING TO BZN ON V86 WHEN ZLC CLRED ME FOR THE VOR RWY 12 IN BZN. THE PROPER WAY TO EXECUTE THIS APCH IS TO PROCEED TO BZN VOR, WHICH IS WHERE IAF IS LOCATED. INSTEAD I DEVIATED FROM THE AIRWAY (V86) AND PROCEEDED TO INTERCEPT THE INBOUND COURSE OF THE APCH WHICH WAS 101 DEGS MAGNETIC HDG. I FEEL THERE ARE 3 REASONS WHY THIS HAPPENED. FIRST, THE CTLR WAS NOT CLR IN HIS INSTRUCTIONS. HIS LAST WORDS WERE 'CLRED FOR THE RWY 12 APCH.' I KNOW THIS IS LEGITIMATE INSTRUCTIONS, HOWEVER I AM USED TO MOST CTLRS GIVING ME INSTRUCTIONS LIKE 'CLRED FOR THE VOR RWY 12 APCH VIA V86 AIRWAY.' SECOND I BELIEVE I WASN'T PAYING ATTN LIKE I SHOULD HAVE BEEN. I KNOW ALL APCHS ARE EXECUTED BEGINNING WITH IAF, BUT I NEGLECTED THE TERM 'IAF' AND DECIDED TO TAKE A SHORT CUT TO THE FINAL APCH HDG. THIRD, I FIGURED I COULD MAINTAIN TERRAIN CLRNC (VFR) AND THERE REALLY WASN'T A NEED TO EXECUTE THE APCH AS PUBLISHED. I TRIED TO CANCEL IFR BUT SOME OTHER PLT XMITTED OVER MY VOICE. THEN CTR CAME BACK AND ASKED ME WHAT I WAS DOING. I TOLD THEM THAT I WAS PROCEEDING INBOUND ON THE 101 DEG RADIAL AND THAT I AM VFR AND WANT TO CANCEL IFR. THEY CALLED ME AND WERE VERY NICE. I DON'T THINK THEY'LL DO ANYTHING BUT I GAVE THEM A BIG SCARE. I'VE LEARNED MY LESSON NOT TO DEVIATE AND TO EXECUTE ALL APCHS STARTING AT IAF. IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

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.