Date: 202009
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZ.TRACON, US
Weather elements / visibility: Haze / Smoke; 1.75
Aircraft: Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Operator: Personal
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Personal
Flight phase: Initial Approach
Airspace: Class E ZZZ
ATC / advisory: TRACON ZZZ
Reporter organization: Personal
Reporter function: Single Pilot; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Instrument
Human factors: Training / Qualification; Confusion; Human-Machine Interface
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew FLC Overrode Automation
Contributing factors: Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: I was on an IFR Flight Plan from ZZZ to ZZZ1.  I had poor speed control on the approach.  I was legally IFR current; but; as it turned out; I was clearly not proficient.  The COVID-19 prevented me from flying with a (COVID safe) safety pilot and getting recent practice.  I was scheduled for simulator training for the following week.I flew VFR out to ZZZ for two days.  The weather was predicted VMC for the next several days.  The day after we arrived; the wind shifted and blew in severe smoke from forest fires.  We considered staying for a few more days; but there was no available lodging and the smoke was getting worse.  I reviewed an IFR plan to go back to ZZZ1 and when the destination weather improved enough; I filed IFR; got my clearance; and departed.  The departure; on route; and vectors to final were smooth and uneventful. There was an aircraft ahead that was going slower and ATC requested that I slow to 90 knots; which is what I should have already been slowing to.  I agreed and reduced power.  The autopilot was holding the altitude coming up to the IAF and I inadvertently pulled off too much power.  I was coming up on the IAF and descent and I was verifying that everything (else) was ready to go; when I noticed that the speed was rapidly reducing.  The autopilot (AP) was trimming nose up to maintain altitude.  I hit control wheel steering; nosed down; and added power.  I had to do a lot of trimming to get the nose back down and I over shot the altitude and rapidly picked up speed.  I got the nose back up; on altitude; and thought that the AP would acquire the glide slope.  Nope; in the excitement; I missed arming the approach and flew right through it.  Now I dove for the GS and picked up more speed again.  Now I'm on the GS and check to see if the AP would acquire it and no it started another excursion and so I shut it off and hand flew the rest of the way.  It was stabilized at this point; so I continued the approach and landed.Mistake 1.  I should have already been planning and reducing speed approaching IAF.Mistake 2.  I should have paid more attention to my speed reduction technique.Mistake 3.  I should have requested ATC to bring me around again to have time to set up properly.Mistake 4.  I should have done what I normally do and that is to turn off the AP and hand fly anytime things get weird.My takeaway is that my IFR currency should be done more often; even if it is done in a simulator.




Synopsis: Pilot reported conducting an unstable instrument approach and cited lack of proficiency due to difficulty finding a safety pilot for practice during the COVID-19 pandemic.