During primary training student pilot became too close to the clouds when he, unexpectedly to the in...

Attributes
ACN	532152
Time
Date	200112
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : gdm.vortac
State Reference	MA
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Weather Elements	other
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : lnk.tower
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 1350 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	532152
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : student
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

After completing a primary training lesson with a pre solo student, above a scattered layer at 3500 ft AGL, the instructor requested that the student descend below the scattered layer. On the descent, the instructor pulled the throttle to idle and asked the student to demonstrate the 'engine out' emergency procedure. The student set/trimmed for best glide and began searching for a suitable landing field. The student was heading for an acceptable field straight ahead in a stable descent, with no verbalization. The student proceeded to make a left turn while looking out the left pilot side window. While focusing on the ground, the student made a series of shallow to medium bank turns. As the student rolled out, a cloud became visible that was previously blocked from the instructors view due to the high wing aircraft confign. The instructor questioned the student regarding cloud clearance requirements (which the student recited correctly). The student proceeded to fly within 2000 ft laterally and less than 500 ft below. The student's fixation on looking for, and flying to an emergency field prevented him from looking outside for traffic or clouds. The high wing aircraft turning in the direction of cloud prevented the observer, acting as instructor, from seeing potential hazard until rollout. Also, the student's non verbalization of intent of action caught the instructor by surprise and unable to look to the left prior to the student initiating the turn, especially since the student had a field straight ahead.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DURING PRIMARY TRAINING STUDENT PLT BECAME TOO CLOSE TO THE CLOUDS WHEN HE, UNEXPECTEDLY TO THE INSTRUCTOR, TURNED TOWARD A FORCED LNDG FIELD DURING ENG OUT FORCED LNDG PRACTICE.

Narrative: AFTER COMPLETING A PRIMARY TRAINING LESSON WITH A PRE SOLO STUDENT, ABOVE A SCATTERED LAYER AT 3500 FT AGL, THE INSTRUCTOR REQUESTED THAT THE STUDENT DSND BELOW THE SCATTERED LAYER. ON THE DSCNT, THE INSTRUCTOR PULLED THE THROTTLE TO IDLE AND ASKED THE STUDENT TO DEMONSTRATE THE 'ENG OUT' EMER PROC. THE STUDENT SET/TRIMMED FOR BEST GLIDE AND BEGAN SEARCHING FOR A SUITABLE LNDG FIELD. THE STUDENT WAS HDG FOR AN ACCEPTABLE FIELD STRAIGHT AHEAD IN A STABLE DSCNT, WITH NO VERBALIZATION. THE STUDENT PROCEEDED TO MAKE A L TURN WHILE LOOKING OUT THE L PLT SIDE WINDOW. WHILE FOCUSING ON THE GND, THE STUDENT MADE A SERIES OF SHALLOW TO MEDIUM BANK TURNS. AS THE STUDENT ROLLED OUT, A CLOUD BECAME VISIBLE THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY BLOCKED FROM THE INSTRUCTORS VIEW DUE TO THE HIGH WING ACFT CONFIGN. THE INSTRUCTOR QUESTIONED THE STUDENT REGARDING CLOUD CLRNC REQUIREMENTS (WHICH THE STUDENT RECITED CORRECTLY). THE STUDENT PROCEEDED TO FLY WITHIN 2000 FT LATERALLY AND LESS THAN 500 FT BELOW. THE STUDENT'S FIXATION ON LOOKING FOR, AND FLYING TO AN EMER FIELD PREVENTED HIM FROM LOOKING OUTSIDE FOR TFC OR CLOUDS. THE HIGH WING ACFT TURNING IN THE DIRECTION OF CLOUD PREVENTED THE OBSERVER, ACTING AS INSTRUCTOR, FROM SEEING POTENTIAL HAZARD UNTIL ROLLOUT. ALSO, THE STUDENT'S NON VERBALIZATION OF INTENT OF ACTION CAUGHT THE INSTRUCTOR BY SURPRISE AND UNABLE TO LOOK TO THE L PRIOR TO THE STUDENT INITIATING THE TURN, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE STUDENT HAD A FIELD STRAIGHT AHEAD.

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.

During primary training student pilot became too close to the clouds when he, unexpectedly to the instructor, turned toward a forced landing field during engine out forced landing practice.