ATC MSAW activated while reporter medium large transport on approach.

Attributes
ACN	119864
Time
Date	198908
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dca
State Reference	DC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1800 msl bound upper : 1800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dca
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 4100 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	119864
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On river visual dca, started out high, due to a late descent which was a result of WX, radar vectors. I overcompensated and descended to approximately 1800' while 8 mi out. This set off the controller's low altitude alert. I had never had this happen and had forgotten this safety aid. It successfully helped to provide an early advisory in order to prevent an unsafe situation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC MSAW ACTIVATED WHILE REPORTER MLG ON APCH.

Narrative: ON RIVER VISUAL DCA, STARTED OUT HIGH, DUE TO A LATE DSCNT WHICH WAS A RESULT OF WX, RADAR VECTORS. I OVERCOMPENSATED AND DESCENDED TO APPROX 1800' WHILE 8 MI OUT. THIS SET OFF THE CTLR'S LOW ALT ALERT. I HAD NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN AND HAD FORGOTTEN THIS SAFETY AID. IT SUCCESSFULLY HELPED TO PROVIDE AN EARLY ADVISORY IN ORDER TO PREVENT AN UNSAFE SITUATION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.