Small Aircraft; High Wing; 1 Eng; Retractable Gear
Flight Crew Private; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 16; Flight Crew Total 2575; Flight Crew Type 2352
Confusion; Situational Awareness
Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Weather
I was on a VFR flight from ZZZ to SJC. Weather at SJC was IFR; legal but below my personal minimum; and forecast to improve to VFR by the time of my arrival. I had flown this route under similar conditions many times before. In flight; I checked TIS-B weather at surrounding airports and noted that both E16 and WVI were reporting clear. I decided to reroute to E16 if conditions at SJC did not improve. Several times during the flight SJC reported improved conditions; not to VFR but high enough ceiling that I requested and received clearance for the ILS 30L Approach. I joined the localizer outside of KLIDE and captured the glideslope soon thereafter; watching as the auto-pilot controlled the descent. Only the last few miles of the approach were under the low overcast. As I emerged below the clouds; the Tower Controller gave me a low altitude alert. Believing I was on glideslope; I was surprised. Looking below; I saw SAP Arena but for unknown reason took that as a sign that I was already past the field. I may have confused it for Levi's Stadium; a totally different sports complex on the far side of SJC in this NW-bound direction. I declared a missed approach and climbed out. Tower turned me over to NORCAL Approach who vectored me for a second try. The controller asked why I had gone missed and I told him my best guess at the time which was that when I had emerged from the clouds I was already past the field. On the second approach; I was vectored to join the localizer near HIVAK; the FAF; well above the glideslope. I descended rapidly; wanting to intercept the GS from below. The auto-pilot never captured the glideslope and I again went too low. This time; however; I recognized SAP Arena as I emerged from the clouds and understood where I was and what I had done wrong on the first approach. I told the Tower Controller that I was visual; proceeded another mile to where I could see the runway; and made a normal landing. I made several mistakes on this flight: I misunderstood my position when transitioning from IMC to VMC on the first approach. I should have continued to rely on the instruments until I had the runway in sight. The low altitude alert should not have rattled me. When vectored around to the FAF on the second approach while still held at an uncomfortably high altitude; I could have requested a longer downwind leg to get below the glideslope. I plan to discuss this situation with a CFII to learn better how to handle a tight turn-in.
GA pilot reported confusion and a low altitude warning from ATC during approach to SJC resulted in a missed approach.