A piper arrow pilot became disoriented on approach into bgm and was given assistance by ARTCC.

Attributes
ACN	436570
Time
Date	199905
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : cfb.vortac
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl single value : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bgm.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee Arrow IV
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute airway : v29.airway
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 5 flight time total : 419 flight time type : 177
ASRS Report	436570
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : provided flight assist
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

My first indication of trouble was my 600 ft overshoot of my assigned altitude of 5000 ft during my climb out from syr. I then obtained the bgm ATIS, was handed off to bgm approach, reshuffled approach plates to the ILS runway 34 instead of my expectation of VOR 10 (easterly winds), changed navigation frequencys and started correcting for a VOR needle that was off to the right. Thinking I had gotten off course while reading the new plate and setting frequencys, I turned to a full 45 degree right correction and then heard approach requesting my current heading (240 degrees) and directing me to turn left to a 160 degree heading for vectors to line me up for an eventual visual approach to runway 34. Some mins later, I descended on the assigned vectors, broke out of IMC, and made an uneventful landing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PIPER ARROW PLT BECAME DISORIENTED ON APCH INTO BGM AND WAS GIVEN ASSISTANCE BY ARTCC.

Narrative: MY FIRST INDICATION OF TROUBLE WAS MY 600 FT OVERSHOOT OF MY ASSIGNED ALT OF 5000 FT DURING MY CLBOUT FROM SYR. I THEN OBTAINED THE BGM ATIS, WAS HANDED OFF TO BGM APCH, RESHUFFLED APCH PLATES TO THE ILS RWY 34 INSTEAD OF MY EXPECTATION OF VOR 10 (EASTERLY WINDS), CHANGED NAV FREQS AND STARTED CORRECTING FOR A VOR NEEDLE THAT WAS OFF TO THE R. THINKING I HAD GOTTEN OFF COURSE WHILE READING THE NEW PLATE AND SETTING FREQS, I TURNED TO A FULL 45 DEG R CORRECTION AND THEN HEARD APCH REQUESTING MY CURRENT HDG (240 DEGS) AND DIRECTING ME TO TURN L TO A 160 DEG HDG FOR VECTORS TO LINE ME UP FOR AN EVENTUAL VISUAL APCH TO RWY 34. SOME MINS LATER, I DSNDED ON THE ASSIGNED VECTORS, BROKE OUT OF IMC, AND MADE AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG.

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.