A newly certificated instrument pilot got confused in making a VOR approach.

Attributes
ACN	261794
Time
Date	199311
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : o51
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 14 flight time total : 334 flight time type : 174
ASRS Report	261794
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was flying from santa rosa, (sts) to lincoln, (051) on an IFR flight plan in VFR conditions. It was only the second time I filed an IFR flight plan since I received my instrument rating. I was approaching marysville VOR (myv) from yubba intersection and had been cleared for the VOR runway 15 approach to lincoln. I decided to take one more look at the approach chart to double check my final heading, time an altitude. When I looked at the chart, I mistook the holding pattern for the missed approach for a procedure turn. The cockpit lighting wasn't adjusted very well. I knew inside that I should turn inbound, but kept picturing the holding pattern procedure turn in my mind. I decided the safest thing would be to start a turn and fly over the holding pattern. The controller called and asked what I was doing. As I said the words 'procedure turn' I realized my mistake. I wanted to explain this to the controller, but instead I just asked what I could do to correct the situation. I immediately turned back to the VOR and continued the approach without further incident. I should not have waited until I was so close to the VOR to review the approach chart. Once I started the hold at the VOR, I should have immediately advised the controller. When the controller asked me what was happening, I should have confessed immediately and not been so afraid to take up time on the frequency. It was late in the evening. I did not feel really comfortable talking to the controller. The next morning, I scheduled some ground instruction with my flight instructor. We discussed all aspects of the flight and addressed several 'what if' scenarios. It is amazing how much I learned from this experience. On the return flight I felt like a more competent pilot. I feel that newly rated instrument pilots should be encouraged to review their first flts with an instructor. Whenever a question arises, query ATC immediately as it is very important that you know what they expect and that they know what you intend to do.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A NEWLY CERTIFICATED INST PLT GOT CONFUSED IN MAKING A VOR APCH.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING FROM SANTA ROSA, (STS) TO LINCOLN, (051) ON AN IFR FLT PLAN IN VFR CONDITIONS. IT WAS ONLY THE SECOND TIME I FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN SINCE I RECEIVED MY INST RATING. I WAS APCHING MARYSVILLE VOR (MYV) FROM YUBBA INTXN AND HAD BEEN CLRED FOR THE VOR RWY 15 APCH TO LINCOLN. I DECIDED TO TAKE ONE MORE LOOK AT THE APCH CHART TO DOUBLE CHK MY FINAL HDG, TIME AN ALT. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE CHART, I MISTOOK THE HOLDING PATTERN FOR THE MISSED APCH FOR A PROC TURN. THE COCKPIT LIGHTING WASN'T ADJUSTED VERY WELL. I KNEW INSIDE THAT I SHOULD TURN INBOUND, BUT KEPT PICTURING THE HOLDING PATTERN PROC TURN IN MY MIND. I DECIDED THE SAFEST THING WOULD BE TO START A TURN AND FLY OVER THE HOLDING PATTERN. THE CTLR CALLED AND ASKED WHAT I WAS DOING. AS I SAID THE WORDS 'PROCEDURE TURN' I REALIZED MY MISTAKE. I WANTED TO EXPLAIN THIS TO THE CTLR, BUT INSTEAD I JUST ASKED WHAT I COULD DO TO CORRECT THE SIT. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED BACK TO THE VOR AND CONTINUED THE APCH WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. I SHOULD NOT HAVE WAITED UNTIL I WAS SO CLOSE TO THE VOR TO REVIEW THE APCH CHART. ONCE I STARTED THE HOLD AT THE VOR, I SHOULD HAVE IMMEDIATELY ADVISED THE CTLR. WHEN THE CTLR ASKED ME WHAT WAS HAPPENING, I SHOULD HAVE CONFESSED IMMEDIATELY AND NOT BEEN SO AFRAID TO TAKE UP TIME ON THE FREQ. IT WAS LATE IN THE EVENING. I DID NOT FEEL REALLY COMFORTABLE TALKING TO THE CTLR. THE NEXT MORNING, I SCHEDULED SOME GND INSTRUCTION WITH MY FLT INSTRUCTOR. WE DISCUSSED ALL ASPECTS OF THE FLT AND ADDRESSED SEVERAL 'WHAT IF' SCENARIOS. IT IS AMAZING HOW MUCH I LEARNED FROM THIS EXPERIENCE. ON THE RETURN FLT I FELT LIKE A MORE COMPETENT PLT. I FEEL THAT NEWLY RATED INST PLTS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO REVIEW THEIR FIRST FLTS WITH AN INSTRUCTOR. WHENEVER A QUESTION ARISES, QUERY ATC IMMEDIATELY AS IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU KNOW WHAT THEY EXPECT AND THAT THEY KNOW WHAT YOU INTEND TO DO.

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.