Pilot loses VOR, becomes lost, low on fuel, getting dark, makes precautionary forced landing.

Attributes
ACN	277703
Time
Date	199407
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : l67
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5500 msl bound upper : 5500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : pit
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	landing other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time total : 125
ASRS Report	277703
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	other personnel
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I departed from van nuys to rialto airport runway L-67. I lost communications from vny to rialto. Fortunately, rialto is not tower and uncontrolled airspace. After landed in rialto I make a phone call to the company where I rent the aircraft, I talked to the mechanic who is in charge of maintenance. I told him what happened. He told me come back without radios, and when I takeoff from rialto I have problems in VOR, and I get disoriented and I check my left tank. Fuel was 1/4 tank and my right tank was 1/3, and I decided to land in good spot because was start coming dark, was XA15 pm. After land 50 mi away from palm springs, I call the mechanic again by cellular phone equipment. At least no one hurt and no damaged aircraft. Next day they come to pick me up, and I'm writing you because is good to know for aviation safety. All this was in C-172.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT LOSES VOR, BECOMES LOST, LOW ON FUEL, GETTING DARK, MAKES PRECAUTIONARY FORCED LNDG.

Narrative: I DEPARTED FROM VAN NUYS TO RIALTO ARPT RWY L-67. I LOST COMS FROM VNY TO RIALTO. FORTUNATELY, RIALTO IS NOT TWR AND UNCTLED AIRSPACE. AFTER LANDED IN RIALTO I MAKE A PHONE CALL TO THE COMPANY WHERE I RENT THE ACFT, I TALKED TO THE MECH WHO IS IN CHARGE OF MAINT. I TOLD HIM WHAT HAPPENED. HE TOLD ME COME BACK WITHOUT RADIOS, AND WHEN I TKOF FROM RIALTO I HAVE PROBS IN VOR, AND I GET DISORIENTED AND I CHK MY L TANK. FUEL WAS 1/4 TANK AND MY R TANK WAS 1/3, AND I DECIDED TO LAND IN GOOD SPOT BECAUSE WAS START COMING DARK, WAS XA15 PM. AFTER LAND 50 MI AWAY FROM PALM SPRINGS, I CALL THE MECH AGAIN BY CELLULAR PHONE EQUIP. AT LEAST NO ONE HURT AND NO DAMAGED ACFT. NEXT DAY THEY COME TO PICK ME UP, AND I'M WRITING YOU BECAUSE IS GOOD TO KNOW FOR AVIATION SAFETY. ALL THIS WAS IN C-172.

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.