Narrative:

Flight from dca to bed. First part conducted VFR (originally filed IFR but elected to depart VFR). 2 controllers asked why I was flying through 5000 ft and then 7000 ft. I explained I had been cleared to 5500 ft and then 7500 ft by previous controllers. IFR plan in the system confused controllers. Picked up IFR clearance over cmk, flew on top at 8000 ft till 5000 ft at dreem. Bed ATIS was 2500 ft scattered so set the plane up for visual approach landing light on, strobes, etc. WX changed abruptly with special ATIS picked up 10 mi out. Required ILS at bed approach didn't turn off landing light and strobes. They caused extreme vertigo, spatial disorientation on entering clouds. I had to fight to keep airplane straight and level. In the course of recovering from disorientation, I experienced 30-40 degrees turn off course and descent to 1500 ft (from 2000 ft assigned). I advanced throttle for missed approach when controller called to give vectors for another approach. During vertigo, I became convinced I had a gyro failure of either attitude indicator or turn coordinator. Focused on altimeter, directional gyro to recover. Controller gave me a 360 degree vector followed by a 180 degree vector followed by a 140 degree vector to intercept. However, I never intercepted the ILS on that heading. I ended up breaking out north of the airport at 2000 ft about midfield and then circled to land. I think that I may have been in a turn greater than 45 degrees -- perhaps 60 degrees during vertigo and either turn coordinator or attitude may have lagged in recovery. Perhaps also the directional gyro may have precessed. Issues: assuming visual approach for an hour then ILS within last 5 mins. Didn't get strobes/landing light off. I should have asked for more than a quick vector back to ILS to set up stabilized approach.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA PLT SUFFERS VERTIGO DURING APCH TO BED, MA.

Narrative: FLT FROM DCA TO BED. FIRST PART CONDUCTED VFR (ORIGINALLY FILED IFR BUT ELECTED TO DEPART VFR). 2 CTLRS ASKED WHY I WAS FLYING THROUGH 5000 FT AND THEN 7000 FT. I EXPLAINED I HAD BEEN CLRED TO 5500 FT AND THEN 7500 FT BY PREVIOUS CTLRS. IFR PLAN IN THE SYS CONFUSED CTLRS. PICKED UP IFR CLRNC OVER CMK, FLEW ON TOP AT 8000 FT TILL 5000 FT AT DREEM. BED ATIS WAS 2500 FT SCATTERED SO SET THE PLANE UP FOR VISUAL APCH LNDG LIGHT ON, STROBES, ETC. WX CHANGED ABRUPTLY WITH SPECIAL ATIS PICKED UP 10 MI OUT. REQUIRED ILS AT BED APCH DIDN'T TURN OFF LNDG LIGHT AND STROBES. THEY CAUSED EXTREME VERTIGO, SPATIAL DISORIENTATION ON ENTERING CLOUDS. I HAD TO FIGHT TO KEEP AIRPLANE STRAIGHT AND LEVEL. IN THE COURSE OF RECOVERING FROM DISORIENTATION, I EXPERIENCED 30-40 DEGS TURN OFF COURSE AND DSCNT TO 1500 FT (FROM 2000 FT ASSIGNED). I ADVANCED THROTTLE FOR MISSED APCH WHEN CTLR CALLED TO GIVE VECTORS FOR ANOTHER APCH. DURING VERTIGO, I BECAME CONVINCED I HAD A GYRO FAILURE OF EITHER ATTITUDE INDICATOR OR TURN COORDINATOR. FOCUSED ON ALTIMETER, DIRECTIONAL GYRO TO RECOVER. CTLR GAVE ME A 360 DEG VECTOR FOLLOWED BY A 180 DEG VECTOR FOLLOWED BY A 140 DEG VECTOR TO INTERCEPT. HOWEVER, I NEVER INTERCEPTED THE ILS ON THAT HDG. I ENDED UP BREAKING OUT N OF THE ARPT AT 2000 FT ABOUT MIDFIELD AND THEN CIRCLED TO LAND. I THINK THAT I MAY HAVE BEEN IN A TURN GREATER THAN 45 DEGS -- PERHAPS 60 DEGS DURING VERTIGO AND EITHER TURN COORDINATOR OR ATTITUDE MAY HAVE LAGGED IN RECOVERY. PERHAPS ALSO THE DIRECTIONAL GYRO MAY HAVE PRECESSED. ISSUES: ASSUMING VISUAL APCH FOR AN HR THEN ILS WITHIN LAST 5 MINS. DIDN'T GET STROBES/LNDG LIGHT OFF. I SHOULD HAVE ASKED FOR MORE THAN A QUICK VECTOR BACK TO ILS TO SET UP STABILIZED APCH.

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.