 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
A PA28 pilot departed oxc only to find later that this contract tower was searching for him, even though he was VFR with no flight plan.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 614835 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200404 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : oxc.airport |
| State Reference | CT |
| Altitude | msl single value : 8000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tower : oxc.tower tower : phl.tower |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Navigation In Use | other |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : cfi |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 800 flight time type : 300 |
| ASRS Report | 614835 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | controller : local |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | non adherence : published procedure |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : detected after the fact |
| Consequence | faa : reviewed incident with flight crew |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
Narrative:
I was the sole occupant of the aircraft for a maintenance test flight after a recent engine overhaul. When I contacted tower for takeoff clearance, I stated that I would climb out in the traffic pattern to approximately 5000 ft MSL (the class D ceiling is 3200 ft MSL) and monitor the tower frequency. I also told the tower that this was a maintenance test flight. After about 30 mins, I decided to fly to an airport approximately 15 mi east. At the same time, I also left the tower frequency. After about 45 mins to 1 hour, I returned to the tower frequency and was told that they had been searching for me for the past 45 mins. Tower told me they had called approach control and center in their search effort. Later, the tower chief explained that they were about to initiate search and rescue efforts when I called in. In retrospect, I probably should have called tower and told them of my intention to leave the frequency. But I also feel tower overreacted in calling for a search, seeing as I was above their airspace and had no requirement to contact them.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A PA28 PLT DEPARTED OXC ONLY TO FIND LATER THAT THIS CONTRACT TWR WAS SEARCHING FOR HIM, EVEN THOUGH HE WAS VFR WITH NO FLT PLAN.
Narrative: I WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE ACFT FOR A MAINT TEST FLT AFTER A RECENT ENG OVERHAUL. WHEN I CONTACTED TWR FOR TKOF CLRNC, I STATED THAT I WOULD CLB OUT IN THE TFC PATTERN TO APPROX 5000 FT MSL (THE CLASS D CEILING IS 3200 FT MSL) AND MONITOR THE TWR FREQ. I ALSO TOLD THE TWR THAT THIS WAS A MAINT TEST FLT. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINS, I DECIDED TO FLY TO AN ARPT APPROX 15 MI E. AT THE SAME TIME, I ALSO LEFT THE TWR FREQ. AFTER ABOUT 45 MINS TO 1 HR, I RETURNED TO THE TWR FREQ AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD BEEN SEARCHING FOR ME FOR THE PAST 45 MINS. TWR TOLD ME THEY HAD CALLED APCH CTL AND CTR IN THEIR SEARCH EFFORT. LATER, THE TWR CHIEF EXPLAINED THAT THEY WERE ABOUT TO INITIATE SEARCH AND RESCUE EFFORTS WHEN I CALLED IN. IN RETROSPECT, I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE CALLED TWR AND TOLD THEM OF MY INTENTION TO LEAVE THE FREQ. BUT I ALSO FEEL TWR OVERREACTED IN CALLING FOR A SEARCH, SEEING AS I WAS ABOVE THEIR AIRSPACE AND HAD NO REQUIREMENT TO CONTACT THEM.
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.