Narrative:

While approaching vys, the controller asked which approach I requested. I then began to search for my approach plates. To my horror, I could not find them! I advised the controller of the situation and declared an emergency. Per my request, the controller vectored me to join the localizer and read me the step down fixes, altitudes, and missed approach instructions. I programmed my GPS and began the approach. After about a 1000 ft descent, I entered VMC and landed without incident. After landing and making all the necessary phone calls, I continued my search for the missing iaps. Again, I was unsuccessful. My only conclusion was that I must have left them in the flight planning room at my last stop. I remember using them to locate an IFR alternate. As is common with incidents like these, I let the need to get going override proper planning. My original route of flight was abandoned due to building thunderstorms and icing, so I was planning the flight leg- by-leg as I went along. I took the time to check the WX and all the charts thoroughly, but I did not take the time to reorganize my paperwork and ensure it was all there.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WHILE FERRYING A DA20 THE CAPT DISCOVERED THAT HE DID NOT HAVE THE APCH PLATES ON BOARD. HE DECLARED AN EMER AND ARTCC RADAR CTLR PROVIDED VECTORS AND APCH INFO TO ASSIST THE FLC IN THE DSCNT INTO VFR CONDITIONS.

Narrative: WHILE APCHING VYS, THE CTLR ASKED WHICH APCH I REQUESTED. I THEN BEGAN TO SEARCH FOR MY APCH PLATES. TO MY HORROR, I COULD NOT FIND THEM! I ADVISED THE CTLR OF THE SIT AND DECLARED AN EMER. PER MY REQUEST, THE CTLR VECTORED ME TO JOIN THE LOC AND READ ME THE STEP DOWN FIXES, ALTS, AND MISSED APCH INSTRUCTIONS. I PROGRAMMED MY GPS AND BEGAN THE APCH. AFTER ABOUT A 1000 FT DSCNT, I ENTERED VMC AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. AFTER LNDG AND MAKING ALL THE NECESSARY PHONE CALLS, I CONTINUED MY SEARCH FOR THE MISSING IAPS. AGAIN, I WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. MY ONLY CONCLUSION WAS THAT I MUST HAVE LEFT THEM IN THE FLT PLANNING ROOM AT MY LAST STOP. I REMEMBER USING THEM TO LOCATE AN IFR ALTERNATE. AS IS COMMON WITH INCIDENTS LIKE THESE, I LET THE NEED TO GET GOING OVERRIDE PROPER PLANNING. MY ORIGINAL RTE OF FLT WAS ABANDONED DUE TO BUILDING TSTMS AND ICING, SO I WAS PLANNING THE FLT LEG- BY-LEG AS I WENT ALONG. I TOOK THE TIME TO CHK THE WX AND ALL THE CHARTS THOROUGHLY, BUT I DID NOT TAKE THE TIME TO REORGANIZE MY PAPERWORK AND ENSURE IT WAS ALL THERE.

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.