Fourth Annual Archie League Medal of Safety Awards
Western Pacific Region
Audio Recording & Transcript 

Western Pacific Audio Transcript (6:23)
Bill Jacobs & Bruce Snoddy
Southern California TRACON

Audio (windows media)

SCT Controller

“Cherokee 494 you are radar contact 20 miles northeast of Tijuana. Confirm its 7,100.”

Pilot

“Cherokee 494, am I in Tijuana now?”

SCT Controller

“Cherokee 494 verify squawking 7700, 7700 at 7,000 feet.”

Pilot

“7,000 feet, Cherokee 494”

SCT Controller

“OK ma’am, are you, are you VFR? Are you out of the clouds?”

Pilot

“Actually I’m a student pilot and I don’t have a [inaudible] and I am actually starting to panic a bit. And yes, I’m on my own, there isn’t an instructor here so…”

SCT Controller

“OK ma’am, we’ll get you on course. Are you out of the clouds?”

Pilot

“I am out of the clouds yes.”

SCT Controller

“OK ma’am, where, did you want to go to Borrego Springs or do you want to land at one of the San Diego airports?”

Pilot

“Someplace near this. I mean I can see a runway if I’m not mistaken, I can see the lights. I don’t know which runway that is, so…”

SCT Controller

“OK, where would you like to land ma’am? Which airport would you like to go to?”

Pilot

“The closest thing to me.”

SCT Controller

“OK, you want to go to the closest airport?”

Pilot

“[Inaudible]… if I can get to Borrego then I will be able to find my way to Gillespie.”

SCT Controller

“OK ma’am, don’t panic, we’ll get you. Do you want to land at Gillespie Airport, because Gillespie is closer to you than Borrego?”

Pilot

“OK”

SCT Controller

“OK ma’am, fly heading, fly heading of 350. Fly heading 350. This is vectors to Gillespie Airport.”

Pilot

“OK, fly heading 350, Cherokee 494. Sorry about this. I just want to get home.”

SCT Controller

“That’s okay ma’am, just take your time, heading 350 and just fly the airplane okay.”

Controller calls Gillespie ATCT

SCT Controller

“Gillespie, SoCal”

Gillespie Controller

“Gillespie”

SCT Controller

“Hey, I’m working 494. I told her to plan 27 right, she’s a, she’s really scared, she’s a student pilot, and uh…”

Gillespie Controller

“You can give her to me any time you like, I’ll be able to get her here. She’ll probably recognize my voice.”

SCT Controller

“Ok, as soon as she gets the airport in sight, I’ll switch her over and right now she’s, I think she’s at around 6,500. As soon as she gets it I’ll give her your frequency.”

Pilot

“I’m still looking for the runway, Cherokee 494”

SCT Controller

“Ok, now look behind you to your right, behind you to your right should be the airport. Ok ma’am, your turning to the north, do you see the airport off your right side?”

Pilot

“Not yet, I can’t see the air, I mean the runway or the airport.”

SCT Controller

“Ok Cherokee 494 turn right, right turn heading 090, right turn.”

Pilot

“Right turn 090”

SCT Controller

“Ok ma’am, do you still see the terrain because you’re pretty low. Ok, Cherokee 494, when you turn right heading, the airport is right below and to your right, right below and to your right ma’am.”

Pilot

“Cherokee 494, I’m on heading 090”

SCT Controller

“Ok, the airport is right underneath your right side ma’am, right underneath your right.”

Pilot

“[Inaudible]… I can’t see it yet.”

SCT Controller

“Cherokee 494 do you see the airport?”

Pilot

“I don’t see the airport, I’m really sorry.”

SCT Controller

“That’s ok, that’s alright. Cherokee 494 say altitude.”

Pilot

“My altitude is one thousand, three or four hundred.”

SCT Controller

“Say altitude again”

Pilot

“I think its 1,300.”

SCT Controller

“Ok ma’am, go ahead and start a climb, you’re too low. Go ahead and start a climb please.”

Pilot

“I’ll climb to 1,500.”

SCT Controller

“Ok, you know what I’m going to do, I’m going to take you to Montgomery Airport. It’s got a longer runway, it’s wider and it’s a little bit easier to see, ok?”

Pilot

“[Inaudible]… in my airfield please. I really don’t want to go anywhere.”

SCT Controller

“Ok, do you want to, I need you to climb ma’am. At either airport you need to climb though, you’re too low.”

Pilot

“I’ll climb to 2,000, I mean 1,000, 2,000 or 2,500?”

SCT Controller

“Yes, 2,500, please start a climb, please start a climb. Ok, Cherokee 494, you do not want to go to Montgomery?”

Pilot

“I really don’t want to go to Montgomery. I just want to land at Gillespie.”

SCT Controller

“Ok ma’am, I need you to turn left. Don’t turn to the right, there’s a mountain right in front of you, turn left.”

Pilot

“Ok, I’ll turn left.”

SCT Controller

“Ok, turn left, left turn and I want you to stay at 2,500 or above until you get the airport in sight. I don’t want you to go any lower than that.”

Pilot

“Ok, we’ll come to 2,500, Cherokee 494.”

SCT Controller

“Ok ma’am, take your time, fly the airplane and turn left, left turn heading 090.”

Pilot

“Ok climbing to 2,500 and head to 090.”

SCT Controller

“Ok, just fly the airplane, relax, we’ll take you back over towards Gillespie and see if we can get you down again.”

Pilot

“Ok, Cherokee 494”

“I see the runway, is that the one you want me to land?”

SCT Controller

“Yes, ma’am, yes I want you to proceed towards those runways. Are you able to change your frequency?”

Pilot

“Yes I am able to change the frequency but I can’t see it at all. Honestly, it’s so dark in the cockpit. I can’t.”

SCT Controller

“Ok, don’t worry about it, just stay with me. The airport is below and to your left and you’re cleared to land on any runway that you see. You’re cleared to land on any runway that you see.”

Pilot

“Ok, we’ll land on the big runway.”

SCT Controller

“Ok, you don’t see it or do you do see it?”

Pilot

“I do see it.”

SCT Controller

“Ok, there’s traffic short final for 27, you’re cleared to land on any runway you see. Chero…”

Pilot

“Uh….”

SCT Controller

“Cherokee 494 I would like for you to let me know when you’re on the runway and on the ground. Cherokee 494 let me know when you’re on the ground please.”

Pilot

“I think I’m going to have to go around.”

SCT Controller

“Ok, go ahead and go around and try it again. There’s traffic on short final for 27 though. Just keep the runway in sight.”

“Cherokee 494, do you see the airport?”

[Inaudible transmissions]

Pilot

“I finally landed this aircraft. Thank goodness. It’s such a relief.”

SCT Controller

“Ok, are you on the ground ma’am?”

Pilot

“I’m on the ground indeed.”

SCT Controller

“Ok, you landed on the runway?”

Pilot

“I landed on the runway.”