Narrative:

I failed to intercept the localizer while on the 11 DME arc of the localizer DME (back course) runway 21 approach to paho. The DME arc is based on the VOR and intercepting the back course localizer requires switching a king 'FLIP-type standby frequency' radio from the VOR frequency to the 'standby' localizer frequency after crossing the 034 degree lead radial. Proper frequencys were entered in all radios and I made the switch to the localizer 'standby' frequency. It's usually a slow localizer capture from the lead radial and I evidently fixated on the HSI waiting for the CDI to come alive. I didn't realize the radio never actually switched to the localizer frequency and I was still on the VOR frequency. I finally realized that something was wrong as it was taking an inordinate amount of time for the CDI to come alive. I discovered the error and ended up passing through the localizer by 2 mi (according to an ATC relay through the local FSS). I discovered the error immediately before the FSS radio call and had already begun the turn back to fly the missed approach procedure. Fatigue was a definite factor. My responsibilities are numerous outside of just flying. Normally my checklist discipline is very good and my instrument scan would have included verification of the proper frequency by a visual check of the 'active' radio frequency numbers on the radio and by identing the frequency's audible morse code identifier. The 'FLIP-type standby frequency' push button switches on the king radios for this airplane are touchy. They can sometimes require several (4-6) attempts to switch to the standby frequency before the radio will finally accept the new frequency. This problem has been brought to the attention of maintenance. As far as the future is concerned, increased diligence during all approachs, especially where standby frequency switches are concerned is in order. Also, non-flying responsibilities will have to be reallocated and managed better so as to provide adequate rest before flying.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PLT FLYING A LOC DME BACK COURSE APCH WITH A VOR DME ARC LEAD-IN, APPARENTLY WITH MINIMUM NAV EQUIP, FAILED TO PROPERLY TUNE AND IDENT HIS RADIOS, RESULTING IN A MISSED APCH.

Narrative: I FAILED TO INTERCEPT THE LOC WHILE ON THE 11 DME ARC OF THE LOC DME (BACK COURSE) RWY 21 APCH TO PAHO. THE DME ARC IS BASED ON THE VOR AND INTERCEPTING THE BACK COURSE LOC REQUIRES SWITCHING A KING 'FLIP-TYPE STANDBY FREQ' RADIO FROM THE VOR FREQ TO THE 'STANDBY' LOC FREQ AFTER XING THE 034 DEG LEAD RADIAL. PROPER FREQS WERE ENTERED IN ALL RADIOS AND I MADE THE SWITCH TO THE LOC 'STANDBY' FREQ. IT'S USUALLY A SLOW LOC CAPTURE FROM THE LEAD RADIAL AND I EVIDENTLY FIXATED ON THE HSI WAITING FOR THE CDI TO COME ALIVE. I DIDN'T REALIZE THE RADIO NEVER ACTUALLY SWITCHED TO THE LOC FREQ AND I WAS STILL ON THE VOR FREQ. I FINALLY REALIZED THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG AS IT WAS TAKING AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE CDI TO COME ALIVE. I DISCOVERED THE ERROR AND ENDED UP PASSING THROUGH THE LOC BY 2 MI (ACCORDING TO AN ATC RELAY THROUGH THE LCL FSS). I DISCOVERED THE ERROR IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE FSS RADIO CALL AND HAD ALREADY BEGUN THE TURN BACK TO FLY THE MISSED APCH PROC. FATIGUE WAS A DEFINITE FACTOR. MY RESPONSIBILITIES ARE NUMEROUS OUTSIDE OF JUST FLYING. NORMALLY MY CHKLIST DISCIPLINE IS VERY GOOD AND MY INST SCAN WOULD HAVE INCLUDED VERIFICATION OF THE PROPER FREQ BY A VISUAL CHK OF THE 'ACTIVE' RADIO FREQ NUMBERS ON THE RADIO AND BY IDENTING THE FREQ'S AUDIBLE MORSE CODE IDENTIFIER. THE 'FLIP-TYPE STANDBY FREQ' PUSH BUTTON SWITCHES ON THE KING RADIOS FOR THIS AIRPLANE ARE TOUCHY. THEY CAN SOMETIMES REQUIRE SEVERAL (4-6) ATTEMPTS TO SWITCH TO THE STANDBY FREQ BEFORE THE RADIO WILL FINALLY ACCEPT THE NEW FREQ. THIS PROB HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE ATTN OF MAINT. AS FAR AS THE FUTURE IS CONCERNED, INCREASED DILIGENCE DURING ALL APCHS, ESPECIALLY WHERE STANDBY FREQ SWITCHES ARE CONCERNED IS IN ORDER. ALSO, NON-FLYING RESPONSIBILITIES WILL HAVE TO BE REALLOCATED AND MANAGED BETTER SO AS TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE REST BEFORE FLYING.

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.