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Taylorcraft L-2 entered sjc traffic pattern with receiver only expecting light signal clearance from tower. Delayed signal from tower caused numerous pattern deviations and landing after sunset with no lights.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 568921 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200212 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : sjc.airport |
| State Reference | CA |
| Altitude | msl single value : 1100 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Dusk |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tower : sjc.tower |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Route In Use | approach : traffic pattern |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : private |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 250 flight time type : 10 |
| ASRS Report | 568921 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : local |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : less severe conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance flight crew : landed as precaution |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | ATC Human Performance Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
Narrative:
My aircraft push-to-talk switch failed in-flight. On return to the airport traffic pattern, I could hear, but not transmit, radio communications. I initiated proper NORDO procedures. The tower acknowledged my presence in the pattern, but would not issue light signals until contacted by my FBO by telephone. I circled 4 or 5 times while waiting for a signal because of moderate traffic in the pattern (I didn't want to create safety problems), but while waiting, the sun set. I believe the tower should have issued a light signal upon my entry into the pattern, whether to land or circle. Their ignoring my NORDO situation caused me to land after sunset in an aircraft with no lights, and caused other traffic to diverge from normal pattern flow as well.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: TAYLORCRAFT L-2 ENTERED SJC TFC PATTERN WITH RECEIVER ONLY EXPECTING LIGHT SIGNAL CLRNC FROM TWR. DELAYED SIGNAL FROM TWR CAUSED NUMEROUS PATTERN DEVS AND LNDG AFTER SUNSET WITH NO LIGHTS.
Narrative: MY ACFT PUSH-TO-TALK SWITCH FAILED INFLT. ON RETURN TO THE ARPT TFC PATTERN, I COULD HEAR, BUT NOT XMIT, RADIO COMS. I INITIATED PROPER NORDO PROCS. THE TWR ACKNOWLEDGED MY PRESENCE IN THE PATTERN, BUT WOULD NOT ISSUE LIGHT SIGNALS UNTIL CONTACTED BY MY FBO BY TELEPHONE. I CIRCLED 4 OR 5 TIMES WHILE WAITING FOR A SIGNAL BECAUSE OF MODERATE TFC IN THE PATTERN (I DIDN'T WANT TO CREATE SAFETY PROBS), BUT WHILE WAITING, THE SUN SET. I BELIEVE THE TWR SHOULD HAVE ISSUED A LIGHT SIGNAL UPON MY ENTRY INTO THE PATTERN, WHETHER TO LAND OR CIRCLE. THEIR IGNORING MY NORDO SIT CAUSED ME TO LAND AFTER SUNSET IN AN ACFT WITH NO LIGHTS, AND CAUSED OTHER TFC TO DIVERGE FROM NORMAL PATTERN FLOW AS WELL.
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.