Small aircraft in a flight of 2 makes ILS approach with non instrument rated pilot.

Attributes
ACN	268896
Time
Date	199404
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pfn
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2700 msl bound upper : 2700
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pfn
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Experimental
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 400 flight time type : 360
ASRS Report	268896
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On approach to pfn, I was advised conditions were 900 ft broken ceiling resulting in IMC. I requested a special VFR clearance for a 'flight of 2.' after a hold of approximately 1/2 hour, approach suggested I could request an ILS approach to runway 14 at pfn. I requested and the ILS approach was commenced. The approach was uneventful and resulted in a normal landing by both aircraft. The concern is that an ILS approach in formation may not be safe and/or per FARS. Corrective action may have been to break off the 'flight of 2' and perform separate approachs. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter states the flight was conducted in an RV6 and RV4 aircraft. These are experimental aircraft. Reporter does not have an instrument rating and stated there was some confusion regarding the clearance. He did not realize he was actually accepting an IFR clearance when the question 'can you accept an ILS approach' was asked. More disturbing to him is the question of a formation instrument approach. He has had varying degrees of confirmation and negative responses since the event. It was pointed out that from a safety standpoint alone. It is not a prudent procedure, ATC separation standards would also be considered compromised. Reporter claims he has really learned from this experience.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA IN A FLT OF 2 MAKES ILS APCH WITH NON INST RATED PLT.

Narrative: ON APCH TO PFN, I WAS ADVISED CONDITIONS WERE 900 FT BROKEN CEILING RESULTING IN IMC. I REQUESTED A SPECIAL VFR CLRNC FOR A 'FLT OF 2.' AFTER A HOLD OF APPROX 1/2 HR, APCH SUGGESTED I COULD REQUEST AN ILS APCH TO RWY 14 AT PFN. I REQUESTED AND THE ILS APCH WAS COMMENCED. THE APCH WAS UNEVENTFUL AND RESULTED IN A NORMAL LNDG BY BOTH ACFT. THE CONCERN IS THAT AN ILS APCH IN FORMATION MAY NOT BE SAFE AND/OR PER FARS. CORRECTIVE ACTION MAY HAVE BEEN TO BREAK OFF THE 'FLT OF 2' AND PERFORM SEPARATE APCHS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATES THE FLT WAS CONDUCTED IN AN RV6 AND RV4 ACFT. THESE ARE EXPERIMENTAL ACFT. RPTR DOES NOT HAVE AN INST RATING AND STATED THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION REGARDING THE CLRNC. HE DID NOT REALIZE HE WAS ACTUALLY ACCEPTING AN IFR CLRNC WHEN THE QUESTION 'CAN YOU ACCEPT AN ILS APCH' WAS ASKED. MORE DISTURBING TO HIM IS THE QUESTION OF A FORMATION INST APCH. HE HAS HAD VARYING DEGS OF CONFIRMATION AND NEGATIVE RESPONSES SINCE THE EVENT. IT WAS POINTED OUT THAT FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT ALONE. IT IS NOT A PRUDENT PROC, ATC SEPARATION STANDARDS WOULD ALSO BE CONSIDERED COMPROMISED. RPTR CLAIMS HE HAS REALLY LEARNED FROM THIS EXPERIENCE.

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.