Disoriented GA pilot finds himself in the landing pattern at NAS willow grove along with military la...

Attributes
ACN	414439
Time
Date	199809
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : nxx
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1700 msl bound upper : 1700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : nxx
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Military Transport
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival other
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 900 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	414439
Person 2
Affiliation	government : military
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : military
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 1500 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Pleasure flight from blm. WX VFR with mostly broken and scattered clouds at 3000 ft. Within 20 mi of 40N, the WX began deteriorating rapidly with cloud cover from 1700 ft and closing. I was at 2000 ft and descending when I decided to discontinue the planned flight, do a 180 degree turn, and try to return to VFR conditions. I became disoriented to my exact position while trying to fly northeast, to distance myself from controled airspace. I was also trying to find an alternate airport in case I needed to immediately land. About 2-3 mi at 1700 ft MSL off the end of the runway off willow grove NAS, an orion was on an extended final about 500 ft below me to the airport. The WX ahead of me was improving, so I exited the airspace as quickly as I could. There was no immediate conflict that I could determine, and returned to my base airport. I tried to stay clear of the area, but became very concerned when I realized my relative position. I also believe that a military helicopter recorded the event and reported it.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DISORIENTED GA PLT FINDS HIMSELF IN THE LNDG PATTERN AT NAS WILLOW GROVE ALONG WITH MIL LNDG TFC.

Narrative: PLEASURE FLT FROM BLM. WX VFR WITH MOSTLY BROKEN AND SCATTERED CLOUDS AT 3000 FT. WITHIN 20 MI OF 40N, THE WX BEGAN DETERIORATING RAPIDLY WITH CLOUD COVER FROM 1700 FT AND CLOSING. I WAS AT 2000 FT AND DSNDING WHEN I DECIDED TO DISCONTINUE THE PLANNED FLT, DO A 180 DEG TURN, AND TRY TO RETURN TO VFR CONDITIONS. I BECAME DISORIENTED TO MY EXACT POS WHILE TRYING TO FLY NE, TO DISTANCE MYSELF FROM CTLED AIRSPACE. I WAS ALSO TRYING TO FIND AN ALTERNATE ARPT IN CASE I NEEDED TO IMMEDIATELY LAND. ABOUT 2-3 MI AT 1700 FT MSL OFF THE END OF THE RWY OFF WILLOW GROVE NAS, AN ORION WAS ON AN EXTENDED FINAL ABOUT 500 FT BELOW ME TO THE ARPT. THE WX AHEAD OF ME WAS IMPROVING, SO I EXITED THE AIRSPACE AS QUICKLY AS I COULD. THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE CONFLICT THAT I COULD DETERMINE, AND RETURNED TO MY BASE ARPT. I TRIED TO STAY CLR OF THE AREA, BUT BECAME VERY CONCERNED WHEN I REALIZED MY RELATIVE POS. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT A MIL HELI RECORDED THE EVENT AND RPTED IT.

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.

Disoriented GA pilot finds himself in the landing pattern at NAS willow grove along with military landing traffic.