Tower controller and M-20J pilot described an emergency return to the airport resulting from an appa...

Attributes
ACN	953759
Time
Date	201106
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	M-20 Series Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	SR22
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Local
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Person 2
Function	Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 38 Flight Crew Total 2231 Flight Crew Type 2027
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Track / Heading All Types

Narrative:

M20P departed runway 35 with an on course heading of 335. A SR22 departed runway 17 on heading 020. After being switched to departure; the M20P started to turn back into the departure corridor and the TRACON controller stated that he was turning back northwest bound. At that point I turned the SR22 to a 090 heading to ensure separation. The M20P continued to fly erratically and I turned the SR22 to a 120 heading to further ensure separation then switched him to departure. At that time the low altitude alert began to alarm and I started to visually search for the aircraft. I observed him descending out of the clouds in a steep right turn. At that time using the override line I heard the pilot state that he having problems; needed help and wanted to get down. He was then switched to tower. When asked to say intentions the pilot stated that he needed to get down; I then cleared him to land on any runway. I then proceeded to clear multiple vehicles off of runway safety areas. I then saw the M20P on final and cleared him to land. He then landed and rolled out with no incident. This emergency situation was due to pilot disorientation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Tower Controller and M-20J pilot described an emergency return to the airport resulting from an apparent disorientation issue with the pilot of an IFR general aviation aircraft.

Narrative: M20P departed Runway 35 with an on course heading of 335. A SR22 departed Runway 17 on heading 020. After being switched to departure; the M20P started to turn back into the departure corridor and the TRACON Controller stated that he was turning back northwest bound. At that point I turned the SR22 to a 090 heading to ensure separation. The M20P continued to fly erratically and I turned the SR22 to a 120 heading to further ensure separation then switched him to Departure. At that time the low altitude alert began to alarm and I started to visually search for the aircraft. I observed him descending out of the clouds in a steep right turn. At that time using the override line I heard the pilot state that he having problems; needed help and wanted to get down. He was then switched to Tower. When asked to say intentions the pilot stated that he needed to get down; I then cleared him to land on any runway. I then proceeded to clear multiple vehicles off of Runway safety areas. I then saw the M20P on final and cleared him to land. He then landed and rolled out with no incident. This emergency situation was due to pilot disorientation.

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.

Tower controller and M-20J pilot described an emergency return to the airport resulting from an apparent disorientation issue with the pilot of an IFR general aviation aircraft.