Pilot flew an NDB approach using his GPS equipment.

Attributes
ACN	300141
Time
Date	199503
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : la24
State Reference	LA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : poe
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other ndb Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 65 flight time total : 1100 flight time type : 275
ASRS Report	300141
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On approach to LA24, I was unable to receive the leesville NDB, ved, on which the only approach to the airport is based. I reported this twice to fort polk approach, the controling agency. My ADF appears to be working fine and would receive other local radio and other nearby NDB's, but not ved. Approach reported the NDB working, as did a nearby aircraft. Since I have an approach certified GPS on board, I asked for and was cleared for the GPS runway 35 approach to LA24. While passing directly over the NDB, a faint signal was received. When returning home, I realized that when the approach plate shows GPS as (GPS), then a stand alone GPS approach is not authorized. Technically, the NDB and my equipment must both be working for the approach to be legal. Obviously, approach control is as confused as I was on this issue.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT FLEW AN NDB APCH USING HIS GPS EQUIP.

Narrative: ON APCH TO LA24, I WAS UNABLE TO RECEIVE THE LEESVILLE NDB, VED, ON WHICH THE ONLY APCH TO THE ARPT IS BASED. I REPORTED THIS TWICE TO FORT POLK APCH, THE CTLING AGENCY. MY ADF APPEARS TO BE WORKING FINE AND WOULD RECEIVE OTHER LCL RADIO AND OTHER NEARBY NDB'S, BUT NOT VED. APCH REPORTED THE NDB WORKING, AS DID A NEARBY ACFT. SINCE I HAVE AN APCH CERTIFIED GPS ON BOARD, I ASKED FOR AND WAS CLRED FOR THE GPS RWY 35 APCH TO LA24. WHILE PASSING DIRECTLY OVER THE NDB, A FAINT SIGNAL WAS RECEIVED. WHEN RETURNING HOME, I REALIZED THAT WHEN THE APCH PLATE SHOWS GPS AS (GPS), THEN A STAND ALONE GPS APCH IS NOT AUTHORIZED. TECHNICALLY, THE NDB AND MY EQUIP MUST BOTH BE WORKING FOR THE APCH TO BE LEGAL. OBVIOUSLY, APCH CTL IS AS CONFUSED AS I WAS ON THIS ISSUE.

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.