Narrative:

I had just been passed from ZDC, after receiving vectors to bcb, to roa approach and was then given further vectors and clearance for the localizer 12 approach along with the necessary barometer reading at bcb, etc. I was nearing the approach course. ATC asked for my DME from tec (the on-airport NDB). I told him I didn't know, but that I was 15 NM from pulaski VOR. He again asked for DME from tec and I said I didn't really know, but guessed 15 mi. He said he showed me more like 4 mi and wanted to know if I couldn't see the ground and would report tec. After all this discussion I noticed that I had passed sunny, allowing me to descend to 3220'. And tec as well, allowing me to descend to 2500'. I began descending from 4800' and upon reaching 4300' ATC said I was below a safe altitude (I was on line with the localizer), and to climb immediately to 5000' and asked if I wanted vectors for another approach, which I accepted, and after being told that I was about 4 mi southeast of the airport, I reported visibility contact and cancelled my flight plan.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMA ON LOCALIZER RWY 12 APCH INTO BCB APPARENTLY OVERFLIES THE ARPT UNKNOWINGLY, UNTIL QUESTIONED BY THE APCH CTLR. PLT RECEIVES VECTORS FOR ANOTHER APCH, ACQUIRES VISUAL CONTACT, THEN CANCELS HIS IFR FLT PLAN AND LANDS.

Narrative: I HAD JUST BEEN PASSED FROM ZDC, AFTER RECEIVING VECTORS TO BCB, TO ROA APCH AND WAS THEN GIVEN FURTHER VECTORS AND CLRNC FOR THE LOC 12 APCH ALONG WITH THE NECESSARY BAROMETER READING AT BCB, ETC. I WAS NEARING THE APCH COURSE. ATC ASKED FOR MY DME FROM TEC (THE ON-ARPT NDB). I TOLD HIM I DIDN'T KNOW, BUT THAT I WAS 15 NM FROM PULASKI VOR. HE AGAIN ASKED FOR DME FROM TEC AND I SAID I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW, BUT GUESSED 15 MI. HE SAID HE SHOWED ME MORE LIKE 4 MI AND WANTED TO KNOW IF I COULDN'T SEE THE GND AND WOULD RPT TEC. AFTER ALL THIS DISCUSSION I NOTICED THAT I HAD PASSED SUNNY, ALLOWING ME TO DSND TO 3220'. AND TEC AS WELL, ALLOWING ME TO DSND TO 2500'. I BEGAN DSNDING FROM 4800' AND UPON REACHING 4300' ATC SAID I WAS BELOW A SAFE ALT (I WAS ON LINE WITH THE LOC), AND TO CLB IMMEDIATELY TO 5000' AND ASKED IF I WANTED VECTORS FOR ANOTHER APCH, WHICH I ACCEPTED, AND AFTER BEING TOLD THAT I WAS ABOUT 4 MI SE OF THE ARPT, I RPTED VIS CONTACT AND CANCELLED MY FLT PLAN.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.