<< >> NASA ASRS Report 360550, February 1997

C150 student pilot in proximity of terrain, CFIT, in a night operation. Misread altimeter, was too low, under the maximum elevation figure (mef).

Attributes
ACN	360550
Time
Date	199702
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : oak airport : lvk
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1300 msl bound upper : 2600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : oak
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna 150
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : student
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 50 flight time type : 45
ASRS Report	360550
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

While on VFR night flight training I called bay approach and was given instruction to maintain VFR at or above 2500 ft. A check of my altimeter showed 2300 ft so I climbed to 2600 ft and leveled off. About 4-5 mins later approach controller came on and asked me to confirm my altitude. I read the dial and reported 2600 ft. Approach then said this did not match with their mode C reading. I checked again and realized I was at 1600 ft, not 2600 ft. I immediately climbed to 2600 ft. The reason I thought I was at 2600 ft when I was at 1600 ft was because there are no lighted instruments in the C150. Rather, the instrument lighting comes from an overhead light. However, because of the angle of the light there is a shadow that makes it very difficult to see the 1000 and 2000 foot lines. I am just glad I was not in IMC with a 1600 ft obstruction.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C150 STUDENT PLT IN PROX OF TERRAIN, CFIT, IN A NIGHT OP. MISREAD ALTIMETER, WAS TOO LOW, UNDER THE MAX ELEVATION FIGURE (MEF).

Narrative: WHILE ON VFR NIGHT FLT TRAINING I CALLED BAY APCH AND WAS GIVEN INSTRUCTION TO MAINTAIN VFR AT OR ABOVE 2500 FT. A CHK OF MY ALTIMETER SHOWED 2300 FT SO I CLBED TO 2600 FT AND LEVELED OFF. ABOUT 4-5 MINS LATER APCH CTLR CAME ON AND ASKED ME TO CONFIRM MY ALT. I READ THE DIAL AND RPTED 2600 FT. APCH THEN SAID THIS DID NOT MATCH WITH THEIR MODE C READING. I CHKED AGAIN AND REALIZED I WAS AT 1600 FT, NOT 2600 FT. I IMMEDIATELY CLBED TO 2600 FT. THE REASON I THOUGHT I WAS AT 2600 FT WHEN I WAS AT 1600 FT WAS BECAUSE THERE ARE NO LIGHTED INSTS IN THE C150. RATHER, THE INST LIGHTING COMES FROM AN OVERHEAD LIGHT. HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE ANGLE OF THE LIGHT THERE IS A SHADOW THAT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE THE 1000 AND 2000 FOOT LINES. I AM JUST GLAD I WAS NOT IN IMC WITH A 1600 FT OBSTRUCTION.

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.