Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 49; Flight Crew Total 282; Flight Crew Type 156
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Human Factors; Procedure
My CFII and I departed in daylight VMC to practice the VOR RWY 5 Approach at ZZZ2 on an instrument training flight - simulated partial panel. After shooting the approach; it was getting dark. My CFII gave me a heading; tuned the localizer for ZZZ1; and instructed me to practice tracking the localizer at 3;000 feet while he got the current ATIS at ZZZ. It appeared that he was getting us set up to return home to ZZZ. My CFII asked me to look up over my view-limiting device to see ZZZ1's runway; which I did; and then resume tracking toward ZZZ1 at 3;000 feet while he would get us set up to return to home base (ZZZ). My CFII called ZZZ Tower and reported inbound (4 or 5 mile straight in). We executed positive exchange of controls to my CFII so that I could remove my view-limiting device; and he initiated a descent. I confirmed vocally that the airplane was still his; as he continued to descend; but was not verbally communicating his intentions/plan to me. ZZZ Tower asked our altitude; and my CFII responded 1;500 feet or 1;600 feet. Tower said he was worried we were in ZZZ1's airspace and asked my CFII if we knew where we were. It was at this time that the situation deteriorated and my CFII froze. He confessed he did not know where he or the airport was. We were getting low and slow and CFII kept repeating he didn't know where we were; but did not take corrective action; I declared 'my airplane; I am PIC' with positive exchange of controls acknowledgment from my CFII ('ok; you are PIC') and verbalized that I was climbing to a safe altitude and navigating accordingly. I requested radar vectors from to ZZZ; and was asked if I had an instructor on board. I said yes I have an instructor on board but he is 'turned around;' e.g. disoriented and confused. ZZZ Tower offered me to go over to ZZZ Approach for vectors to final. I accepted and contacted ZZZ. I requested a safe altitude and heading to fly; as I could see traffic outside and knew two other airports and mountains were in close vicinity and it was night. They gave me a heading and altitude to maintain and asked how much fuel I had on board. I confirmed at least an hour's worth of fuel remaining; but that I needed to land. I was unable to tell whether my instructor was disoriented/panic attack or something else and believe the safety of the flight necessitated this prompt corrective action. ZZZ asked me which approach I would like; and I requested the ILS because I am most familiar with that approach and it is a precision approach. They gave me vectors to intercept the localizer which I did; confirmed I had the runway in sight; and Approach asked if we would need assistance on the ground. I asked my CFII if he was okay and he said no assistance; so I responded 'Negative' and switched to advisory (ZZZ Tower) when instructed by Approach. ZZZ Tower cleared me to land and I landed uneventfully. CFII not communicating intentions/plan with student; lack of initial corrective action upon disorientation at night; loss of situational awareness; and not talking to ATC are human performance considerations that contributed to this chain of events.
C172 pilot reported the flight instructor onboard appeared to become disoriented and not aware of the aircraft location relative to other airspace.