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Pilot deviated from clearance course when he spiralled in descent to avoid rapidly building cumulus, while on an IFR flight plan.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 316840 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199509 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : fkn |
| State Reference | VA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 7000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Mooney Aircraft Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | cruise other descent other |
| Route In Use | enroute airway : v266 enroute other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : private |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 800 flight time type : 450 |
| ASRS Report | 316840 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other anomaly other other spatial deviation |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | other other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
While on an IFR flight plan in a single engine, low wing 180 hp aircraft from smith mountain lake airport at W91, va, to mqi, nc, at the assigned altitude of 7000 ft, I observed rather rapidly building cumulus ahead. I requested 9000 ft and received approval. At 8500 ft it became apparent that I would not clear the tops and really did not care to fly into the building clouds if it could be avoided, so I requested back down to 7000 ft and was approved for a block between 8500 ft and 7000 ft. At 7000 ft I requested 5000 ft and was approved to descend from 7000 ft to 3000 ft. As I was getting very close to the ominous looking clouds I spiraled down to avoid entering the churning clouds. At 3500 ft, ATC queried me as to my heading -- said he was getting a strange indication. (I was on course but apparently showing no forward motion.) I advised ATC that I was spiraling down to avoid entering the black churning clouds. ATC responded, 'that is ok but 'I' should have advised them before doing it.' at my assigned descent altitude of 3000 ft I was below the clouds and rolled out on course heading and proceeded on the flight at the assigned altitude of 3000 ft. Rest of the trip was uneventful and landed at mqi, nc.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PLT DEVIATED FROM CLRNC COURSE WHEN HE SPIRALLED IN DSCNT TO AVOID RAPIDLY BUILDING CUMULUS, WHILE ON AN IFR FLT PLAN.
Narrative: WHILE ON AN IFR FLT PLAN IN A SINGLE ENG, LOW WING 180 HP ACFT FROM SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE ARPT AT W91, VA, TO MQI, NC, AT THE ASSIGNED ALT OF 7000 FT, I OBSERVED RATHER RAPIDLY BUILDING CUMULUS AHEAD. I REQUESTED 9000 FT AND RECEIVED APPROVAL. AT 8500 FT IT BECAME APPARENT THAT I WOULD NOT CLR THE TOPS AND REALLY DID NOT CARE TO FLY INTO THE BUILDING CLOUDS IF IT COULD BE AVOIDED, SO I REQUESTED BACK DOWN TO 7000 FT AND WAS APPROVED FOR A BLOCK BTWN 8500 FT AND 7000 FT. AT 7000 FT I REQUESTED 5000 FT AND WAS APPROVED TO DSND FROM 7000 FT TO 3000 FT. AS I WAS GETTING VERY CLOSE TO THE OMINOUS LOOKING CLOUDS I SPIRALED DOWN TO AVOID ENTERING THE CHURNING CLOUDS. AT 3500 FT, ATC QUERIED ME AS TO MY HDG -- SAID HE WAS GETTING A STRANGE INDICATION. (I WAS ON COURSE BUT APPARENTLY SHOWING NO FORWARD MOTION.) I ADVISED ATC THAT I WAS SPIRALING DOWN TO AVOID ENTERING THE BLACK CHURNING CLOUDS. ATC RESPONDED, 'THAT IS OK BUT 'I' SHOULD HAVE ADVISED THEM BEFORE DOING IT.' AT MY ASSIGNED DSCNT ALT OF 3000 FT I WAS BELOW THE CLOUDS AND ROLLED OUT ON COURSE HDG AND PROCEEDED ON THE FLT AT THE ASSIGNED ALT OF 3000 FT. REST OF THE TRIP WAS UNEVENTFUL AND LANDED AT MQI, NC.
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.