GA small aircraft altitude deviation excursion from clearance altitude during IAP VOR approach.

Attributes
ACN	131821
Time
Date	198912
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mic
State Reference	MN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : msp
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 650 flight time type : 40
ASRS Report	131821
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Handing off from msp center for voa-a approach, I was turned inbound right outside the VOR at 2500'. My primary concern at the time was the 3400' of icy, snow-covered runways, flying a twin in there for the first time. I was concerned with the VOR approach and only having 4 1/2 mi to the threshold that I would not get the aircraft slowed down enough and in time for the landing. As a result, I began descent to MDA before rather than after the VOR, which resulted in crossing the VOR at 1500', not 2500' as shown on plate profile. The change in frequency just prior added to the confusion. Contributing factors: 1) 2 tired toddlers in the back seat. 2) complacency--had flown same approach to minimums several times before in the single, but let the change in having a twin overshadow the set procedures. 3) being VMC, I was in paying less attention to the procedures than I should have. I was thinking too far ahead of the plane in that I was thinking about landing before I was close to getting there. In summary, if you're on an IFR, stay IFR (on the procedures) until you cancel it!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA ALT DEVIATION EXCURSION FROM CLRNC ALT DURING IAP VOR APCH.

Narrative: HANDING OFF FROM MSP CENTER FOR VOA-A APCH, I WAS TURNED INBND RIGHT OUTSIDE THE VOR AT 2500'. MY PRIMARY CONCERN AT THE TIME WAS THE 3400' OF ICY, SNOW-COVERED RWYS, FLYING A TWIN IN THERE FOR THE FIRST TIME. I WAS CONCERNED WITH THE VOR APCH AND ONLY HAVING 4 1/2 MI TO THE THRESHOLD THAT I WOULD NOT GET THE ACFT SLOWED DOWN ENOUGH AND IN TIME FOR THE LNDG. AS A RESULT, I BEGAN DSCNT TO MDA BEFORE RATHER THAN AFTER THE VOR, WHICH RESULTED IN XING THE VOR AT 1500', NOT 2500' AS SHOWN ON PLATE PROFILE. THE CHANGE IN FREQ JUST PRIOR ADDED TO THE CONFUSION. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: 1) 2 TIRED TODDLERS IN THE BACK SEAT. 2) COMPLACENCY--HAD FLOWN SAME APCH TO MINIMUMS SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IN THE SINGLE, BUT LET THE CHANGE IN HAVING A TWIN OVERSHADOW THE SET PROCS. 3) BEING VMC, I WAS IN PAYING LESS ATTN TO THE PROCS THAN I SHOULD HAVE. I WAS THINKING TOO FAR AHEAD OF THE PLANE IN THAT I WAS THINKING ABOUT LNDG BEFORE I WAS CLOSE TO GETTING THERE. IN SUMMARY, IF YOU'RE ON AN IFR, STAY IFR (ON THE PROCS) UNTIL YOU CANCEL IT!

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.