Instructor pilot of a piper, PA28-200, failed to notice that the instrument recurrent pilot, who he ...

Attributes
ACN	472389
Time
Date	200005
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : myv.vor
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mcc.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent : vacating altitude descent other
Route In Use	approach : instrument non precision arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 3300 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	472389
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : executed missed approach
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were on a recurrent training flight designed to get an instrument pilot some additional instrument practice. After departing 0o5 (davis) VFR, we asked sacramento approach for the VOR runway 15 approach to lincoln (lhm). About 5 mi from myv, we were cleared for the approach. The student had a little trouble figuring out the entry procedure, and then turning inbound to the VOR (147 degrees). In the procedure turn he didn't get the proper obs setting (147 degrees) until almost at the VOR. After passing the VOR, we both neglected to reset the obs to the final approach course (121 degrees) and continued outbound on the 147 degree radial. At the 8.9 NM DME point, we began a descent toward the MDA. At about 10-11 DME, I couldn't see the airport or surroundings and rechked the approach plate. That is when I discovered our course selection error. (This put us about 7 NM off course). We began a missed approach and contacted ATC. As far as I know, no conflict with other aircraft occurred. Some of the contributing factors were the following: 1) initially we had planned to do practice approachs elsewhere, but the student wanted to switch when we met at the airport. So, I wasn't as prepared for the approach we did. 2) I had only done this approach a couple of times before, and only with vectors to final, so I had not made the course change at the VOR. 3) the unlimited ceiling and visibility probably led me into a sense of complacency about the approach. 4) ATC switched us to the CTAF shortly after VOR passage. Had we stayed on that frequency longer, the controller probably would have been able to inform us of our error. In the future, I will doublechk courses on less familiar approachs, just as I would in IMC. Also, any change in our original plan will call for increased alertness on my part. This was a good reminder of the requirement to stay vigilant to following approach procedures carefully even when practicing in good VMC.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INSTRUCTOR PLT OF A PIPER, PA28-200, FAILED TO NOTICE THAT THE INST RECURRENT PLT, WHO HE WAS OVERSEEING PRACTICING A VOR APCH PROC, HAD NOT INTERCEPTED THE APCH RADIAL AFTER PASSING THE VOR CAUSING THEM TO BECOME 7 MI OFF COURSE AT THE MDA.

Narrative: WE WERE ON A RECURRENT TRAINING FLT DESIGNED TO GET AN INST PLT SOME ADDITIONAL INST PRACTICE. AFTER DEPARTING 0O5 (DAVIS) VFR, WE ASKED SACRAMENTO APCH FOR THE VOR RWY 15 APCH TO LINCOLN (LHM). ABOUT 5 MI FROM MYV, WE WERE CLRED FOR THE APCH. THE STUDENT HAD A LITTLE TROUBLE FIGURING OUT THE ENTRY PROC, AND THEN TURNING INBOUND TO THE VOR (147 DEGS). IN THE PROC TURN HE DIDN'T GET THE PROPER OBS SETTING (147 DEGS) UNTIL ALMOST AT THE VOR. AFTER PASSING THE VOR, WE BOTH NEGLECTED TO RESET THE OBS TO THE FINAL APCH COURSE (121 DEGS) AND CONTINUED OUTBOUND ON THE 147 DEG RADIAL. AT THE 8.9 NM DME POINT, WE BEGAN A DSCNT TOWARD THE MDA. AT ABOUT 10-11 DME, I COULDN'T SEE THE ARPT OR SURROUNDINGS AND RECHKED THE APCH PLATE. THAT IS WHEN I DISCOVERED OUR COURSE SELECTION ERROR. (THIS PUT US ABOUT 7 NM OFF COURSE). WE BEGAN A MISSED APCH AND CONTACTED ATC. AS FAR AS I KNOW, NO CONFLICT WITH OTHER ACFT OCCURRED. SOME OF THE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE FOLLOWING: 1) INITIALLY WE HAD PLANNED TO DO PRACTICE APCHS ELSEWHERE, BUT THE STUDENT WANTED TO SWITCH WHEN WE MET AT THE ARPT. SO, I WASN'T AS PREPARED FOR THE APCH WE DID. 2) I HAD ONLY DONE THIS APCH A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE, AND ONLY WITH VECTORS TO FINAL, SO I HAD NOT MADE THE COURSE CHANGE AT THE VOR. 3) THE UNLIMITED CEILING AND VISIBILITY PROBABLY LED ME INTO A SENSE OF COMPLACENCY ABOUT THE APCH. 4) ATC SWITCHED US TO THE CTAF SHORTLY AFTER VOR PASSAGE. HAD WE STAYED ON THAT FREQ LONGER, THE CTLR PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO INFORM US OF OUR ERROR. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL DOUBLECHK COURSES ON LESS FAMILIAR APCHS, JUST AS I WOULD IN IMC. ALSO, ANY CHANGE IN OUR ORIGINAL PLAN WILL CALL FOR INCREASED ALERTNESS ON MY PART. THIS WAS A GOOD REMINDER OF THE REQUIREMENT TO STAY VIGILANT TO FOLLOWING APCH PROCS CAREFULLY EVEN WHEN PRACTICING IN GOOD VMC.

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.

Instructor pilot of a piper, PA28-200, failed to notice that the instrument recurrent pilot, who he was overseeing practicing a VOR approach procedure, had not intercepted the approach radial after passing the VOR causing them to become 7 mi off course at the MDA.