REPORT OF ERRATIC APCH AT UNCONTROLLED ARPT BY GA SMA.
Synopsis
REPORT OF ERRATIC APCH AT UNCONTROLLED ARPT BY GA SMA.
Narrative
A CALL WAS MADE TO THE HARTFORD FLT STANDARDS OFFICE DESCRIBING 'ERRATIC FLYING.' THE COMPLAINT ALLEGED THAT MY LNDG AT WINDHAM ARPT WAS DOWNWIND AND THAT IN CIRCLING AFTER A MISSED APCH; I FLEW AT 300'. AFTER A DEMANDING FLT IN CLOUDS FROM MD WITH A LONG DELAY AT TETERBORO; DUE TO FATIGUE; I PROBABLY HAD UNCONSCIOUSLY MISREAD THE WINDSOCK. IT WAS INDICATING A LNDG ON EITHER RWY 27 OR 18. I CHOSE 36; A 2800' RWY WITH A HILL AT THE END. I FLEW THE MISSED APCH TWICE; THEN LANDED ON RWY 27. IN MY CONVERSATION WITH THE FAA; IT WAS AGREED THAT NONE OF THIS IS IN VIOLATION OF THE FAR'S. (THEY NEVERTHELESS REQUESTED A COPY OF MY LOG BOOK SHOWING A CURRENT BIENNIAL AND INSTRUMENT CURRENCY.) THE WIND; IN FACT; WAS SO LIGHT THAT SMOKE RISING IN THE NEARBY TOWN OF WILLIMANTIC WAS ALMOST STRAIGHT UP. (THE COMPLAINT ALLEGED THAT IT WAS BLOWING AT 10 KTS.) AS TO ALT; THE CEILING WAS AT THE MDA OR 814' OVER THE FIELD. AS PATTERN ALT IS 1200'; IT NO DOUBT APPEARED THAT MY PLANE WAS FLYING TOO LOW. THE PROB IS THAT BOTH THE FAA AND MYSELF HAVE EXPENDED UNNECESSARY TIME LOOKING INTO A FRIVOLOUS PHONE CALL. IF THESE COMPLAINTS ARE NOT DEMANDED IN WRITING IT INVITES PEOPLE WITH GRUDGES TO USE THE SYS FOR PERSONAL ATTACKS (A SITUATION WHICH I DON'T THINK HAPPENED HERE AS I DON'T KNOW THE CALLER). NOTE THAT HE AND OTHERS WERE SITTING IN THE OFFICE WITH THE UNICOM BUT DID NOT RESPOND TO MY CALLS FOR ADVISORIES. AS A RESULT OF THE EVENT DESCRIBED BELOW; I SUGGEST 2 RULE CHANGES THAT WOULD INCREASE SAFETY AT UNCONTROLLED ARPTS AND REDUCE IRRELEVANT PAPERWORK. UNICOMS SHOULD BE TURNED ON DURING WORKING HRS. CITIZEN RPTS OF VIOLATIONS SHOULD BE RECEIVED BY THE FAA ONLY IN WRITING.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.