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PA-23 pilot used a GPS to navigate to an airport but programed to the VOR of the same name. When ATC questioned heading the pilot detected the error and became reoriented.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 871645 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201001 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601-1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | GSH.Airport |
| State Reference | IN |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | PA-23-250 Aztec |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Cruise |
| Route In Use | Direct |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | GPS & Other Satellite Navigation |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 50 Flight Crew Total 16000 Flight Crew Type 3000 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Track / Heading All Types |
Narrative:
Departed for gsh. After takeoff I contacted sbn approach and asked for VFR radar service. Sbn approach advised me I had an IFR flight plan waiting; so I decided the IFR clearance to gsh which was 'cleared as filed' (I filed direct gsh VORTAC direct gsh. I was going to go VFR but I observed light snow ahead). Sbn approach called and asked me to let him know when I had the airport in sight. When I got 5 NM from the airport; I clicked the mike to turn on the runway lights and saw nothing and no city lights. As I passed over what I thought was the airport below (ground is snow covered) with no lights; sbn approach called and asked if I was going to gsh since I was heading southeast over the gsh VORTAC. I instantly turned to a 080 degree heading and saw gsh 8 miles east. I answered sbn approach and confirmed I was going to gsh and that I had the airport in sight. Sbn approach cleared me for the visual approach and I canceled my IFR 3 to 4 miles west of gsh and continued VFR to the airport and landed. What were the factors in this event? 1) I was running late. Hurried departure. 2) I set gsh in the GPS but didn't notice the GPS was set for VOR. I set gsh VOR in the GPS instead of gsh airport. I focused on the GPS instead of taking the clues from the heading/VOR indicators and outside reference. 3) I didn't pay attention to the course on the ground even when my heading to gsh airport and ground referenced didn't look right. 4) first time I had flown this aircraft in about 2 months. Very little recent time in this aircraft. 5) didn't use the autopilot to fly the aircraft as I was checking things out. What actions would have prevented this event? 1) slow down and double check everything especially since I had not flown this aircraft in almost two months. 2) take note of the setting on the GPS (airport; VOR; NDB; and intersection). Don't focus on one thing; scan! Be aware! 3) take not of clues from all sources (visual; VOR; heading). 4) refresh memory on avionics that are different. 5) use the autopilot to fly aircraft when there is a need to check things out.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PA-23 pilot used a GPS to navigate to an airport but programed to the VOR of the same name. When ATC questioned heading the pilot detected the error and became reoriented.
Narrative: Departed for GSH. After takeoff I contacted SBN Approach and asked for VFR radar service. SBN Approach advised me I had an IFR flight plan waiting; so I decided the IFR clearance to GSH which was 'cleared as filed' (I filed direct GSH VORTAC direct GSH. I was going to go VFR but I observed light snow ahead). SBN Approach called and asked me to let him know when I had the airport in sight. When I got 5 NM from the airport; I clicked the mike to turn on the runway lights and saw nothing and no city lights. As I passed over what I thought was the airport below (ground is snow covered) with no lights; SBN Approach called and asked if I was going to GSH since I was heading southeast over the GSH VORTAC. I instantly turned to a 080 degree heading and saw GSH 8 miles east. I answered SBN Approach and confirmed I was going to GSH and that I had the airport in sight. SBN Approach cleared me for the visual approach and I canceled my IFR 3 to 4 miles west of GSH and continued VFR to the airport and landed. What were the factors in this event? 1) I was running late. Hurried departure. 2) I set GSH in the GPS but didn't notice the GPS was set for VOR. I set GSH VOR in the GPS instead of GSH airport. I focused on the GPS instead of taking the clues from the heading/VOR indicators and outside reference. 3) I didn't pay attention to the course on the ground even when my heading to GSH airport and ground referenced didn't look right. 4) First time I had flown this aircraft in about 2 months. Very little recent time in this aircraft. 5) Didn't use the autopilot to fly the aircraft as I was checking things out. What actions would have prevented this event? 1) Slow down and double check everything especially since I had not flown this aircraft in almost two months. 2) Take note of the setting on the GPS (airport; VOR; NDB; and intersection). Don't focus on one thing; scan! Be aware! 3) Take not of clues from all sources (visual; VOR; heading). 4) Refresh memory on avionics that are different. 5) Use the autopilot to fly aircraft when there is a need to check things out.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.