Air carrier medium large transport descended below the TCA flying a visual ILS into las.

Attributes
ACN	120195
Time
Date	198908
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : las
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : las tracon : iad
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 25000 flight time type : 13500
ASRS Report	120195
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

My first officer was flying the leg from the left seat (company policy per captain's discretion). The TCA chart for 15 to 20 mi shows a minimum altitude of 6500' MSL. I called my first officer's attention to the fact that he was low (6000') and his reply was, 'I am right on the glide slope', which he was, but it does not comply with the published TCA altitude requirements. I discussed the issue with him on the ground, and he agreed that I was probably right. I have talked this over with other pilots in our company, one of which was filed on for not complying with the TCA chart and it seems to be misleading to be on the glide slope and be violated for an altitude requirement.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG DESCENDED BELOW THE TCA FLYING A VISUAL ILS INTO LAS.

Narrative: MY F/O WAS FLYING THE LEG FROM THE LEFT SEAT (COMPANY POLICY PER CAPT'S DISCRETION). THE TCA CHART FOR 15 TO 20 MI SHOWS A MINIMUM ALT OF 6500' MSL. I CALLED MY F/O'S ATTN TO THE FACT THAT HE WAS LOW (6000') AND HIS REPLY WAS, 'I AM RIGHT ON THE GLIDE SLOPE', WHICH HE WAS, BUT IT DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE PUBLISHED TCA ALT REQUIREMENTS. I DISCUSSED THE ISSUE WITH HIM ON THE GND, AND HE AGREED THAT I WAS PROBABLY RIGHT. I HAVE TALKED THIS OVER WITH OTHER PLTS IN OUR COMPANY, ONE OF WHICH WAS FILED ON FOR NOT COMPLYING WITH THE TCA CHART AND IT SEEMS TO BE MISLEADING TO BE ON THE GLIDE SLOPE AND BE VIOLATED FOR AN ALT REQUIREMENT.

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.