A C182 pilot was unable to see the beacon for twf from his vantage point at 7000 ft MSL on V269.

Attributes
ACN	453988
Time
Date	199910
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : twf.airport
State Reference	ID
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6700 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : twf.tower
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival : vfr
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 1400 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	453988
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airport
Primary Problem	Airport
Situations
Airport	lighting : twf.airport

Narrative:

I was on an IFR flight plan at 7000 ft MSL on V269 from burley to twin falls, identification, about 10 mi west of burley. Slc handed me to twf approach. Told to expect visual, maintain 7000 ft until airport in sight. It was dawn. I was looking for beacon, never saw it. I finally realized I was looking at twf airport. I was within 5 mi. My attention was focused on finding a beacon, which I never saw from 7000 ft MSL on V269. When I realized I had the airport in sight, I pushed over to descend and started descent checks. I realized I had not reported leaving 7000 ft. I contacted twf approach as I was passing through 6700 ft, cleared to descend, still no beacon. After landing, I discovered that the beacon was physically blocked from a pilot's view on V269. This is unsafe. Twf airport is difficult to find -- a blocked beacon from a victor airway is not acceptable. I should have flown airplane and not focused intently on finding the beacon. I discussed this with twf controllers who agree that beacon needs to be higher than new control tower and moved.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C182 PLT WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE BEACON FOR TWF FROM HIS VANTAGE POINT AT 7000 FT MSL ON V269.

Narrative: I WAS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN AT 7000 FT MSL ON V269 FROM BURLEY TO TWIN FALLS, ID, ABOUT 10 MI W OF BURLEY. SLC HANDED ME TO TWF APCH. TOLD TO EXPECT VISUAL, MAINTAIN 7000 FT UNTIL ARPT IN SIGHT. IT WAS DAWN. I WAS LOOKING FOR BEACON, NEVER SAW IT. I FINALLY REALIZED I WAS LOOKING AT TWF ARPT. I WAS WITHIN 5 MI. MY ATTN WAS FOCUSED ON FINDING A BEACON, WHICH I NEVER SAW FROM 7000 FT MSL ON V269. WHEN I REALIZED I HAD THE ARPT IN SIGHT, I PUSHED OVER TO DSND AND STARTED DSCNT CHKS. I REALIZED I HAD NOT RPTED LEAVING 7000 FT. I CONTACTED TWF APCH AS I WAS PASSING THROUGH 6700 FT, CLRED TO DSND, STILL NO BEACON. AFTER LNDG, I DISCOVERED THAT THE BEACON WAS PHYSICALLY BLOCKED FROM A PLT'S VIEW ON V269. THIS IS UNSAFE. TWF ARPT IS DIFFICULT TO FIND -- A BLOCKED BEACON FROM A VICTOR AIRWAY IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. I SHOULD HAVE FLOWN AIRPLANE AND NOT FOCUSED INTENTLY ON FINDING THE BEACON. I DISCUSSED THIS WITH TWF CTLRS WHO AGREE THAT BEACON NEEDS TO BE HIGHER THAN NEW CTL TWR AND MOVED.

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.