Pilot of an unlighted J3 departs on a flight with a planned duration that will result in an arrival ...

Attributes
ACN	629542
Time
Date	200409
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	J3 Cub
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 370 flight time type : 18
ASRS Report	629542
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Environmental Factor Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Sunset according to the WX channel was to be XB39. I was able to start taxiing at approximately XA15. In the back of my head I kept thinking about my time available till sunset, but continued on my plan. Because winds were from the north, I had to make the furthest taxi possible (approximately 1 1/2 mi) to takeoff into the wind. I flew to my desired location, did 1 landing (full stop), and then departed for home. About 1/2 way back, I realized that I was getting very close to sunset and may not get back in time. By the time I set up for a pattern entry and was on downwind, the sun was below the horizon. I made a landing and taxied without incident. Overall, there was no time of real danger, but in reflecting on other possible consequences, several things come to mind: 1) by flying and taxiing after sunset without navigation lighting, I was in violation of the FARS. 2) I created an unsafe situation for other pilots that could have not seen me during dusk/difficult lighting conditions. 3) this situation was compounded by not having a radio. 4) had I been more delayed for any reason my situation could have compromised my own safety to a much greater degree (forced landing, etc). Give yourself a time cushion, similar to a fuel cushion, of available light.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF AN UNLIGHTED J3 DEPARTS ON A FLT WITH A PLANNED DURATION THAT WILL RESULT IN AN ARR AFTER SUNSET. PLT FLIES IN VIOLATION OF FAR PART 91 PT 209.

Narrative: SUNSET ACCORDING TO THE WX CHANNEL WAS TO BE XB39. I WAS ABLE TO START TAXIING AT APPROX XA15. IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD I KEPT THINKING ABOUT MY TIME AVAILABLE TILL SUNSET, BUT CONTINUED ON MY PLAN. BECAUSE WINDS WERE FROM THE N, I HAD TO MAKE THE FURTHEST TAXI POSSIBLE (APPROX 1 1/2 MI) TO TKOF INTO THE WIND. I FLEW TO MY DESIRED LOCATION, DID 1 LNDG (FULL STOP), AND THEN DEPARTED FOR HOME. ABOUT 1/2 WAY BACK, I REALIZED THAT I WAS GETTING VERY CLOSE TO SUNSET AND MAY NOT GET BACK IN TIME. BY THE TIME I SET UP FOR A PATTERN ENTRY AND WAS ON DOWNWIND, THE SUN WAS BELOW THE HORIZON. I MADE A LNDG AND TAXIED WITHOUT INCIDENT. OVERALL, THERE WAS NO TIME OF REAL DANGER, BUT IN REFLECTING ON OTHER POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES, SEVERAL THINGS COME TO MIND: 1) BY FLYING AND TAXIING AFTER SUNSET WITHOUT NAV LIGHTING, I WAS IN VIOLATION OF THE FARS. 2) I CREATED AN UNSAFE SIT FOR OTHER PLTS THAT COULD HAVE NOT SEEN ME DURING DUSK/DIFFICULT LIGHTING CONDITIONS. 3) THIS SIT WAS COMPOUNDED BY NOT HAVING A RADIO. 4) HAD I BEEN MORE DELAYED FOR ANY REASON MY SIT COULD HAVE COMPROMISED MY OWN SAFETY TO A MUCH GREATER DEGREE (FORCED LNDG, ETC). GIVE YOURSELF A TIME CUSHION, SIMILAR TO A FUEL CUSHION, OF AVAILABLE LIGHT.

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.

Pilot of an unlighted J3 departs on a flight with a planned duration that will result in an arrival after sunset. Pilot flies in violation of far part 91 pt 209.