A C210 pilot, on approach to arrival, became disoriented, flying through the final approach course.

Attributes
ACN	538320
Time
Date	200202
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : arr.airport
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl single value : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : arr.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna 210 Centurion / Turbo Centurion 210C, 210D
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : arr.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 988
ASRS Report	538320
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : became reoriented
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Environmental Factor Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I initially called arrival tower at 8 NM northeast of field and was told to report 2 mi northeast for runway 27. Upon approaching the field, I heard the calls from both a small aircraft on downwind to base for runway 27, and a small jet on a several mi final for runway 27. I saw the lights on both of these aircraft and was aware of their position. At about 2 mi northeast, I called arrival tower and told him of my position and that I had the small aircraft turning base to final at 12 O'clock position. (I still had the jet on final in my sight also.) at that point, the controller asked if I could make a short approach to the runway from that position, I replied that I could and I would slow up and do that. I remained high and slowed the aircraft for the short approach. The controller, then stated if I could do that, then enter a right downwind for runway 27, instead of the short approach, angled entry. My main point of concern at this time was watching for the landing and inbound on final traffic. By this time, I was still quite high in the pattern and was nearing the final approach course to runway 27. I ended up flying through the final approach course to runway 27, while well above the flight path of the jet on final. I had become somewhat disoriented while watching for the traffic and the last min change of plans. Tower informed me that I should make a left turn and follow the aircraft (jet) on final. No evasive action was needed by any aircraft. I should have made a right 360 degree turn while on base for runway 27, rather than just slowing and taking the short approach.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C210 PLT, ON APCH TO ARR, BECAME DISORIENTED, FLYING THROUGH THE FINAL APCH COURSE.

Narrative: I INITIALLY CALLED ARR TWR AT 8 NM NE OF FIELD AND WAS TOLD TO RPT 2 MI NE FOR RWY 27. UPON APCHING THE FIELD, I HEARD THE CALLS FROM BOTH A SMALL ACFT ON DOWNWIND TO BASE FOR RWY 27, AND A SMALL JET ON A SEVERAL MI FINAL FOR RWY 27. I SAW THE LIGHTS ON BOTH OF THESE ACFT AND WAS AWARE OF THEIR POS. AT ABOUT 2 MI NE, I CALLED ARR TWR AND TOLD HIM OF MY POS AND THAT I HAD THE SMALL ACFT TURNING BASE TO FINAL AT 12 O'CLOCK POS. (I STILL HAD THE JET ON FINAL IN MY SIGHT ALSO.) AT THAT POINT, THE CTLR ASKED IF I COULD MAKE A SHORT APCH TO THE RWY FROM THAT POS, I REPLIED THAT I COULD AND I WOULD SLOW UP AND DO THAT. I REMAINED HIGH AND SLOWED THE ACFT FOR THE SHORT APCH. THE CTLR, THEN STATED IF I COULD DO THAT, THEN ENTER A R DOWNWIND FOR RWY 27, INSTEAD OF THE SHORT APCH, ANGLED ENTRY. MY MAIN POINT OF CONCERN AT THIS TIME WAS WATCHING FOR THE LNDG AND INBOUND ON FINAL TFC. BY THIS TIME, I WAS STILL QUITE HIGH IN THE PATTERN AND WAS NEARING THE FINAL APCH COURSE TO RWY 27. I ENDED UP FLYING THROUGH THE FINAL APCH COURSE TO RWY 27, WHILE WELL ABOVE THE FLT PATH OF THE JET ON FINAL. I HAD BECOME SOMEWHAT DISORIENTED WHILE WATCHING FOR THE TFC AND THE LAST MIN CHANGE OF PLANS. TWR INFORMED ME THAT I SHOULD MAKE A L TURN AND FOLLOW THE ACFT (JET) ON FINAL. NO EVASIVE ACTION WAS NEEDED BY ANY ACFT. I SHOULD HAVE MADE A R 360 DEG TURN WHILE ON BASE FOR RWY 27, RATHER THAN JUST SLOWING AND TAKING THE SHORT APCH.

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.