Incident Overview
A private renter pilot conducted a night cross-country flight from southern California to Arizona. Upon returning to his home base at 0148, a low stratus cloud cover was present. The pilot had been receiving VFR flight following and subsequently requested an ILS approach for the destination airport.
Pilot Performance and ATC Interaction
During the approach, the pilot was unable to follow the controller's altitude and heading instructions. He was advised four times that he was left of course and below his assigned altitude. Radar contact was lost twice during the sequence.
Equipment History
The VOR/LOC indicator on the aircraft had been out for repairs on three occasions following complaints from renter pilots that the localizer needle was sticking or exhibited poor deflection. Approximately six months prior to the incident, the pilot's logbook recorded VOR and localizer problems on two separate occasions.
Pilot Experience and Medical History
According to the pilot's logbook, he had flown about 31 hours in the preceding six months, including 0.9 hours of simulated instrument time and no actual instrument time. His last third-class flight physical on record occurred 27 months before the incident.