Dsm controller concerned with field lighting failures.

Attributes
ACN	495183
Time
Date	200012
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dsm.airport
State Reference	IA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dsm.tracon tower : dsm.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna Aircraft Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller non radar : 3 controller radar : 4 controller time certified in position1 : 2.5
ASRS Report	495183
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airport ATC Facility ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Airport
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : dsm.tower
Airport	lighting : dsm.airport

Narrative:

The first event occurred 12/sat/00 I was working xe/rs/xe. I had an unfamiliar cessna pilot on downwind approximately 30 second from turning base when the airfield lighting went out. The second event I was working radar with 2 or 3 aircraft approaching the final approach course. During both events, the airfield lighting went off, (by itself, presumably). Our airfield lighting has 2 control panels and as I understand, the 'master' panel is located in the airport electricians office. When the lighting went off, the 'master' panel, took control and we were unable to bring the lights back on from the tower. I have 2 problems with this: 1) we are fortunate that we've not had an aircraft accident because of these occurrances, and 2) we should be able to control field lighting from the tower, that's our job. Also, the electrician doesn't work during this time, so we have had to wait for him to come in, delaying several aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DSM CTLR CONCERNED WITH FIELD LIGHTING FAILURES.

Narrative: THE FIRST EVENT OCCURRED 12/SAT/00 I WAS WORKING XE/RS/XE. I HAD AN UNFAMILIAR CESSNA PLT ON DOWNWIND APPROX 30 SEC FROM TURNING BASE WHEN THE AIRFIELD LIGHTING WENT OUT. THE SEC EVENT I WAS WORKING RADAR WITH 2 OR 3 ACFT APCHING THE FINAL APCH COURSE. DURING BOTH EVENTS, THE AIRFIELD LIGHTING WENT OFF, (BY ITSELF, PRESUMABLY). OUR AIRFIELD LIGHTING HAS 2 CTL PANELS AND AS I UNDERSTAND, THE 'MASTER' PANEL IS LOCATED IN THE ARPT ELECTRICIANS OFFICE. WHEN THE LIGHTING WENT OFF, THE 'MASTER' PANEL, TOOK CTL AND WE WERE UNABLE TO BRING THE LIGHTS BACK ON FROM THE TWR. I HAVE 2 PROBS WITH THIS: 1) WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT WE'VE NOT HAD AN ACFT ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THESE OCCURRANCES, AND 2) WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO CTL FIELD LIGHTING FROM THE TWR, THAT'S OUR JOB. ALSO, THE ELECTRICIAN DOESN'T WORK DURING THIS TIME, SO WE HAVE HAD TO WAIT FOR HIM TO COME IN, DELAYING SEVERAL ACFT.

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.