WESTERN PACIFIC REGION
24
On the chilly desert evening of February 15, 2022, NATCA members Matt Cox, Eric Joe and the training
team of Dan Hauptman and Colby Alford were having a routine shift at Las Vegas TRACON (L30).
Cox was working the Granite sector when N77FH, a Beech Bonanza (BE35), inbound to Boulder City
Airport (BVU), checked in VFR, and stated that he needed assistance.
N77FH was having problems maintaining VFR and had climbed into Class A airspace (above 18,000
feet). The pilot stated that he was at 19,300 feet, however his mode C altitude readout was not
functioning. Cox identified the aircraft and accomplished a point out with Los Angeles Center to protect
the area around N77FH since he was above Las Vegas TRACON's airspace.
Cox asked if the pilot was IFR qualified, and the pilot declared that he was not but soon after N77FH
stated he could see the ground and started a VFR descent. As N77FH began the descent and moved
closer to Boulder City, he was switched over to the training team of Hauptman and Alford on the
Daggett sector.
Dan
Hauptman
Las Vegas TRACON
(L30)
Eric
Joe
Las Vegas TRACON
(L30)
Colby
Alford
Las Vegas TRACON
(L30)
Matthew
Cox
Las Vegas TRACON
(L30)
By Robert Reddeg (Southern California TRACON, SCT)
