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Small aircraft pilot practicing instrument approach to orl in IMC misinterprets approach charts and descends 1000' low. Altitude alert in orl tower went off.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 130857 |
| Time | |
| Date | 198912 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : orl |
| State Reference | FL |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 500 msl bound upper : 1500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : orl tower : orl |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 2 Eng, Retractable Gear |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Route In Use | approach : straight in |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : commercial |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 1310 flight time type : 75 |
| ASRS Report | 130857 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : overshoot altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
Cleared by orl approach for localizer/backcourse orl executive, 'maintain 1500 until established on final approach course; contact tower.' I intercepted the localizer and contacted tower. Checked approach plate for first mandatory altitude. Due to light conditions (night, red cabin lights) misread 1500 as 500. Descended to 500'. Received altitude alert from tower and climbed to 1500'. Remaining approach and landing were normal. Knowing that light conditions would undoubtedly be poor, I should have thoroughly reviewed all possible approachs before takeoff.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: SMA PLT PRACTICING INSTRUMENT APCH TO ORL IN IMC MISINTERPRETS APCH CHARTS AND DESCENDS 1000' LOW. ALT ALERT IN ORL TWR WENT OFF.
Narrative: CLRED BY ORL APCH FOR LOC/BACKCOURSE ORL EXECUTIVE, 'MAINTAIN 1500 UNTIL ESTABLISHED ON FINAL APCH COURSE; CONTACT TWR.' I INTERCEPTED THE LOC AND CONTACTED TWR. CHKED APCH PLATE FOR FIRST MANDATORY ALT. DUE TO LIGHT CONDITIONS (NIGHT, RED CABIN LIGHTS) MISREAD 1500 AS 500. DSNDED TO 500'. RECEIVED ALT ALERT FROM TWR AND CLBED TO 1500'. REMAINING APCH AND LNDG WERE NORMAL. KNOWING THAT LIGHT CONDITIONS WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY BE POOR, I SHOULD HAVE THOROUGHLY REVIEWED ALL POSSIBLE APCHS BEFORE TKOF.
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.