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An IFR C172 on a fot VOR runway 11 approach cancelled IFR in VMC; subsequently reentering IMC and executing a VFR missed approach into IMC without a clearance.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 676846 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200511 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | navaid : fot.vortac |
| State Reference | CA |
| Altitude | agl single value : 1000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zse.artcc |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 700 |
| ASRS Report | 676846 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : published procedure |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance flight crew : diverted to alternate flight crew : executed missed approach |
| Consequence | other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Weather Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
Narrative:
During a VOR runway 11 approach to fot I encountered a hole with VFR minimums and cancelled IFR. Prior to reaching the airport I encountered a large area of rapidly drifting fog and mist and was forced to execute the published missed approach back into the clouds even though I had previously cancelled IFR! Thanks to the good work of a sea controller; conflict with other aircraft was avoided. I used poor judgement in canceling IFR prior to landing. I put my aircraft and potentially other aircraft at risk by my actions. In the future; I will never cancel IFR prior to landing unless I have the airport clearly in sight under solid VFR conditions. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated that he had fully expected a VFR approach under the clouds because of his past experience at fot. He was not prepared to execute the missed and feels ATC saved the day for him. As a retired air carrier pilot; he was shaken and embarrassed by that event. Because the WX did not improve; he proceeded to acv.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN IFR C172 ON A FOT VOR RWY 11 APCH CANCELLED IFR IN VMC; SUBSEQUENTLY REENTERING IMC AND EXECUTING A VFR MISSED APCH INTO IMC WITHOUT A CLRNC.
Narrative: DURING A VOR RWY 11 APCH TO FOT I ENCOUNTERED A HOLE WITH VFR MINIMUMS AND CANCELLED IFR. PRIOR TO REACHING THE ARPT I ENCOUNTERED A LARGE AREA OF RAPIDLY DRIFTING FOG AND MIST AND WAS FORCED TO EXECUTE THE PUBLISHED MISSED APCH BACK INTO THE CLOUDS EVEN THOUGH I HAD PREVIOUSLY CANCELLED IFR! THANKS TO THE GOOD WORK OF A SEA CTLR; CONFLICT WITH OTHER ACFT WAS AVOIDED. I USED POOR JUDGEMENT IN CANCELING IFR PRIOR TO LNDG. I PUT MY ACFT AND POTENTIALLY OTHER ACFT AT RISK BY MY ACTIONS. IN THE FUTURE; I WILL NEVER CANCEL IFR PRIOR TO LNDG UNLESS I HAVE THE ARPT CLEARLY IN SIGHT UNDER SOLID VFR CONDITIONS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT HE HAD FULLY EXPECTED A VFR APCH UNDER THE CLOUDS BECAUSE OF HIS PAST EXPERIENCE AT FOT. HE WAS NOT PREPARED TO EXECUTE THE MISSED AND FEELS ATC SAVED THE DAY FOR HIM. AS A RETIRED ACR PLT; HE WAS SHAKEN AND EMBARRASSED BY THAT EVENT. BECAUSE THE WX DID NOT IMPROVE; HE PROCEEDED TO ACV.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.