Pilot of a C182RG failed to maintain the assigned heading and altitude when being vectored to join t...

Attributes
ACN	360381
Time
Date	199702
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tri
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5200 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : tri tower : gjt
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 480 flight time type : 5
ASRS Report	360381
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During the ILS runway 23 approach at tri, approach control gave the instruction to turn to a specified heading to 'join the localizer.' I was very busy in the cockpit configuring the navigation equipment for the approach and interpreted the ATC instruction as a suggested heading and clearance to join the localizer. After crossing the localizer course, I began a descent to the next MDA. I also flew through the course and during the descent, I attempted to rejoin the localizer. Simultaneously, 1 of the 2 localizer inoperative flags displayed itself along with a full scale needle deflection. The second localizer needle indicated 3 dots of deflection with a momentary needle oscillation and inoperative flag. I believed the #1 navigation to be inoperative and continued the approach with the #2 navigation instrument. Having continued the descent down to 5200 ft MSL, approximately 800 ft below the last assigned altitude and nearly 60 degrees from the last assigned heading, the controller acknowledged that I was off course and descending towards rising terrain. Following this acknowledgement was an instruction to climb to 6000 ft MSL and to fly a new assigned heading to join the localizer. I complied with the new instructions, though I had become confused and slightly disoriented with regard to my position. After regaining orientation and continued vectoring I was able to successfully rejoin the localizer and intercept the GS to successfully complete the ILS approach. In summary, the chain of events occurred as follows: 1) confusing the instruction of the controller to fly a vectored heading to join the localizer with an actual clearance to begin the approach. 2) preoccupation with confusing instrument indications. 3) loss of orientation. Corrective actions: 1) complied with new ATC instructions. 2) regained orientation with respect to the localizer course.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF A C182RG FAILED TO MAINTAIN THE ASSIGNED HDG AND ALT WHEN BEING VECTORED TO JOIN THE LOC COURSE. IN ADDITION, THE PLT EXPERIENCED AN ERRONEOUS INDICATION FROM #1 NAVAID WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE UNUSABLE AREAS INDICATED IN THE ARPT FACILITY DIRECTORY.

Narrative: DURING THE ILS RWY 23 APCH AT TRI, APCH CTL GAVE THE INSTRUCTION TO TURN TO A SPECIFIED HDG TO 'JOIN THE LOC.' I WAS VERY BUSY IN THE COCKPIT CONFIGURING THE NAV EQUIP FOR THE APCH AND INTERPRETED THE ATC INSTRUCTION AS A SUGGESTED HDG AND CLRNC TO JOIN THE LOC. AFTER XING THE LOC COURSE, I BEGAN A DSCNT TO THE NEXT MDA. I ALSO FLEW THROUGH THE COURSE AND DURING THE DSCNT, I ATTEMPTED TO REJOIN THE LOC. SIMULTANEOUSLY, 1 OF THE 2 LOC INOP FLAGS DISPLAYED ITSELF ALONG WITH A FULL SCALE NEEDLE DEFLECTION. THE SECOND LOC NEEDLE INDICATED 3 DOTS OF DEFLECTION WITH A MOMENTARY NEEDLE OSCILLATION AND INOP FLAG. I BELIEVED THE #1 NAV TO BE INOP AND CONTINUED THE APCH WITH THE #2 NAV INST. HAVING CONTINUED THE DSCNT DOWN TO 5200 FT MSL, APPROX 800 FT BELOW THE LAST ASSIGNED ALT AND NEARLY 60 DEGS FROM THE LAST ASSIGNED HDG, THE CTLR ACKNOWLEDGED THAT I WAS OFF COURSE AND DSNDING TOWARDS RISING TERRAIN. FOLLOWING THIS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT WAS AN INSTRUCTION TO CLB TO 6000 FT MSL AND TO FLY A NEW ASSIGNED HDG TO JOIN THE LOC. I COMPLIED WITH THE NEW INSTRUCTIONS, THOUGH I HAD BECOME CONFUSED AND SLIGHTLY DISORIENTED WITH REGARD TO MY POS. AFTER REGAINING ORIENTATION AND CONTINUED VECTORING I WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY REJOIN THE LOC AND INTERCEPT THE GS TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE ILS APCH. IN SUMMARY, THE CHAIN OF EVENTS OCCURRED AS FOLLOWS: 1) CONFUSING THE INSTRUCTION OF THE CTLR TO FLY A VECTORED HDG TO JOIN THE LOC WITH AN ACTUAL CLRNC TO BEGIN THE APCH. 2) PREOCCUPATION WITH CONFUSING INST INDICATIONS. 3) LOSS OF ORIENTATION. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS: 1) COMPLIED WITH NEW ATC INSTRUCTIONS. 2) REGAINED ORIENTATION WITH RESPECT TO THE LOC COURSE.

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.

Pilot of a C182RG failed to maintain the assigned heading and altitude when being vectored to join the localizer course. In addition, the pilot experienced an erroneous indication from #1 NAVAID which could have been caused by the unusable areas indicated in the airport facility directory.