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A C172 pilot reports that he forgot to turn on his navigation lights or his beacon during a flight after sunset.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 386580 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199711 |
| Day | Sun |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : mqo |
| State Reference | CA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 209 msl bound upper : 1500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tower : mqo |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | other |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : private |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 39 flight time total : 2556 flight time type : 2500 |
| ASRS Report | 386580 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : local |
| Qualification | controller : non radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
As I've done many times since purchasing the airplane 18 yrs ago, I completed the cessna 'before takeoff' checklist. Departed runway 29, turned crosswind out of 1200 ft MSL per sign at east end of runway, then turned downwind. Doublechked panel when downwind, abeam and found that I had taxied and departed with a landing light only no navigation lights or beacon. I always use the beacon, day or night, so I have no idea how I missed 'lights as required' on the checklist. Turned on beacon and navigation lights immediately when error detected. Tower never said a word and fortunately was working no other aircraft at this airport that is served by 2 commuter airlines that arrive from the north frequently via a runway 29 left downwind. In the future, in addition to completing the checklist and rechking on climb out, I'll give the panel a 'once over' as I take the runway.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A C172 PLT RPTS THAT HE FORGOT TO TURN ON HIS NAV LIGHTS OR HIS BEACON DURING A FLT AFTER SUNSET.
Narrative: AS I'VE DONE MANY TIMES SINCE PURCHASING THE AIRPLANE 18 YRS AGO, I COMPLETED THE CESSNA 'BEFORE TKOF' CHKLIST. DEPARTED RWY 29, TURNED XWIND OUT OF 1200 FT MSL PER SIGN AT E END OF RWY, THEN TURNED DOWNWIND. DOUBLECHKED PANEL WHEN DOWNWIND, ABEAM AND FOUND THAT I HAD TAXIED AND DEPARTED WITH A LNDG LIGHT ONLY NO NAV LIGHTS OR BEACON. I ALWAYS USE THE BEACON, DAY OR NIGHT, SO I HAVE NO IDEA HOW I MISSED 'LIGHTS AS REQUIRED' ON THE CHKLIST. TURNED ON BEACON AND NAV LIGHTS IMMEDIATELY WHEN ERROR DETECTED. TWR NEVER SAID A WORD AND FORTUNATELY WAS WORKING NO OTHER ACFT AT THIS ARPT THAT IS SERVED BY 2 COMMUTER AIRLINES THAT ARRIVE FROM THE N FREQUENTLY VIA A RWY 29 L DOWNWIND. IN THE FUTURE, IN ADDITION TO COMPLETING THE CHKLIST AND RECHKING ON CLBOUT, I'LL GIVE THE PANEL A 'ONCE OVER' AS I TAKE THE RWY.
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.