Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 450; Flight Crew Total 1208; Flight Crew Type 500
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Inflight Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Police / Security Involved
Human Factors
I'm a CFII and was instructing an IFR lesson; we were holding at LUSEY on the missed approach out of ILS 22 MMV and on our outbound leg we were hit by a green laser. I reported the incident to ATC and idented the transponder; then I turned off the taxi/landing/strobe lights and over flew the laser. Upon turning off the lights the laser lost us but I could still see where it was coming from. I over flew it; reported to Portland Approach then turned back all of the lights. Upon turning on the lights; the laser found us again. ATC asked for me to copy the phone number for the Port of Portland Police and to call them. I called them and made a report; then Portland TRACON called me back; we spoke and they asked me to call the Sheriff in McMinnville; I did and gave them the best description that I could of where the laser could have come from. I realized after the fact that I may have broken a rule in turning off my taxi/landing/strobe lights while flying at night. That was not my intention; my intention was solely to remove myself as a visible target for the laser. I was in Radar contact and knew that I was the only aircraft in the area; so I didn't think that there was a hazard in me turning my taxi/landing/strobe lights off; but while it made me harder for the laser operator to see; it made me harder for other aircraft to see. I realize that what I should have done was just immediately vacated the area and put the laser on my tail which is how I plan to conduct myself henceforth.
C172 instructor pilot reports being illuminated by a green laser during a night training flight. All exterior lights are turned off to evade the laser operator and the incident is reported to ATC and the local police.