C172 pilot executes instrument approach without the associated approach plate.

Attributes
ACN	579800
Time
Date	200304
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bfi.airport
State Reference	WA
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Rain
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : s46.tracon
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	ils localizer only : 31l
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : instrument non precision arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 1060 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	579800
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : trainee
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

During let-down in IMC to bfi, and after listening to ATIS and determining approach in use, I could not locate the approach plate. I informed the controller of the situation and he asked my intentions. I told him I would either need an approach to runway 13R (which I had) or vectors to a visual approach. The controller later asked if I could accept vectors to the runway 31L approach with him monitoring my progress. I replied that if he could give me the frequency and 'da,' I could accept it. I got the frequency and idented the localizer. The GS flag was not visible, but it became clear during the approach the GS was inoperative. I informed the controller of this fact and told the controller I would need the localizer only minimums. He issued them and told me my position relative to an approach fix, however without the plate I still didn't really know where I was with respect to my descent. After reaching a 4 mi fix (VFR GPS) on the localizer, I established a 500 FPM descent and established approach speed. Just as I was about to declare a missed approach to get better situational awareness or perhaps go elsewhere, I broke out and got the airport in sight (approximately 1000 ft AGL). I executed an uneventful landing. Key factors: 1) approach plate missing. I should have gone elsewhere. 2) GS failed without loss of identify or flag. 3) student in left seat: I took controls to intercept the localizer, but didn't fly it well due to high workload, trying to come up with a plan, and trying to fly it from the right seat. 4) missing approach plate would have been much less problematic if the GS hadn't failed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 PLT EXECUTES INST APCH WITHOUT THE ASSOCIATED APCH PLATE.

Narrative: DURING LET-DOWN IN IMC TO BFI, AND AFTER LISTENING TO ATIS AND DETERMINING APCH IN USE, I COULD NOT LOCATE THE APCH PLATE. I INFORMED THE CTLR OF THE SIT AND HE ASKED MY INTENTIONS. I TOLD HIM I WOULD EITHER NEED AN APCH TO RWY 13R (WHICH I HAD) OR VECTORS TO A VISUAL APCH. THE CTLR LATER ASKED IF I COULD ACCEPT VECTORS TO THE RWY 31L APCH WITH HIM MONITORING MY PROGRESS. I REPLIED THAT IF HE COULD GIVE ME THE FREQ AND 'DA,' I COULD ACCEPT IT. I GOT THE FREQ AND IDENTED THE LOC. THE GS FLAG WAS NOT VISIBLE, BUT IT BECAME CLR DURING THE APCH THE GS WAS INOP. I INFORMED THE CTLR OF THIS FACT AND TOLD THE CTLR I WOULD NEED THE LOC ONLY MINIMUMS. HE ISSUED THEM AND TOLD ME MY POS RELATIVE TO AN APCH FIX, HOWEVER WITHOUT THE PLATE I STILL DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHERE I WAS WITH RESPECT TO MY DSCNT. AFTER REACHING A 4 MI FIX (VFR GPS) ON THE LOC, I ESTABLISHED A 500 FPM DSCNT AND ESTABLISHED APCH SPD. JUST AS I WAS ABOUT TO DECLARE A MISSED APCH TO GET BETTER SITUATIONAL AWARENESS OR PERHAPS GO ELSEWHERE, I BROKE OUT AND GOT THE ARPT IN SIGHT (APPROX 1000 FT AGL). I EXECUTED AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG. KEY FACTORS: 1) APCH PLATE MISSING. I SHOULD HAVE GONE ELSEWHERE. 2) GS FAILED WITHOUT LOSS OF IDENT OR FLAG. 3) STUDENT IN L SEAT: I TOOK CTLS TO INTERCEPT THE LOC, BUT DIDN'T FLY IT WELL DUE TO HIGH WORKLOAD, TRYING TO COME UP WITH A PLAN, AND TRYING TO FLY IT FROM THE R SEAT. 4) MISSING APCH PLATE WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH LESS PROBLEMATIC IF THE GS HADN'T FAILED.

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.