Golden Eagle 421
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 35; Flight Crew Total 4950; Flight Crew Type 272
Communication Breakdown; Distraction; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Procedure; Human Factors; Equipment / Tooling
In visible conditions but on ILS clearance to maintain 2400 until established. I briefly switched transmit to CTAF to key the runway lights and was distracted by the fact I couldn't get the runway lights to come on. Did get them to come on and began a visual descent realizing I had not called the field in sight and cancelled with ATC. I switched transmit frequencies back to cancel realizing I had not had ATC on receive while I was keying the pilot controlled lighting (PCL). ATC had been trying to reach me to give me a low altitude warning. The lesson here is to tell ATC I am visual but need to switch frequencies to key the PCL. Additionally; make certain I have cancelled and coordinated with ATC before beginning a visual descent.
C421 pilot became distracted after momentarily switching frequencies to activate runway lighting and began a visual approach without coordination with ATC. When contact was reestablished; ATC provided a low altitude warning to the pilot.