Mdt frt aircraft flight crew reports that VOR problems led to failed approach at atl.

Attributes
ACN	173400
Time
Date	199103
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach ground : preflight landing : missed approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 2754 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	173400
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After navigation through thunderstorms (dtw to atl), we noticed (after several ATC comments on our course) that our VOR's (captain and first officer) were off 26 degrees in bearing. (Should be noted that this had been written up on the previous trip.) nearly atl, we experienced off flags on (intermittent) both VOR's. At this point we confessed the VOR problem to ATC and received radar vectors for the approach. Approach kept us high and fast for the ILS 8L to atl. We broke out high and fast. (The mdt is hard to slow in this situation.) we went around for another approach, which again was difficult for the mdt. At this point we also received erratic G/south and localizer indications on both captain and first officer's side. Another go around requested the localizer only approach. At this point (after being cleared for the approach), we went 400' below a step-down fix. We then made a normal landing. The problems that contributed to this altitude bust were: 1) internal navigation problems. 2) ATC keeping us high and fast for the initial approach segment. 3) aircraft did not have a separate DME head (had to switch back and forth from ILS to atl VOR). 4) by the third approach, the crew was frustrated with the situation and overloaded.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MDT FRT ACFT FLT CREW REPORTS THAT VOR PROBLEMS LED TO FAILED APCH AT ATL.

Narrative: AFTER NAVIGATION THROUGH TSTMS (DTW TO ATL), WE NOTICED (AFTER SEVERAL ATC COMMENTS ON OUR COURSE) THAT OUR VOR'S (CAPT AND F/O) WERE OFF 26 DEGS IN BEARING. (SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THIS HAD BEEN WRITTEN UP ON THE PREVIOUS TRIP.) NEARLY ATL, WE EXPERIENCED OFF FLAGS ON (INTERMITTENT) BOTH VOR'S. AT THIS POINT WE CONFESSED THE VOR PROB TO ATC AND RECEIVED RADAR VECTORS FOR THE APCH. APCH KEPT US HIGH AND FAST FOR THE ILS 8L TO ATL. WE BROKE OUT HIGH AND FAST. (THE MDT IS HARD TO SLOW IN THIS SITUATION.) WE WENT AROUND FOR ANOTHER APCH, WHICH AGAIN WAS DIFFICULT FOR THE MDT. AT THIS POINT WE ALSO RECEIVED ERRATIC G/S AND LOC INDICATIONS ON BOTH CAPT AND F/O'S SIDE. ANOTHER GAR REQUESTED THE LOC ONLY APCH. AT THIS POINT (AFTER BEING CLRED FOR THE APCH), WE WENT 400' BELOW A STEP-DOWN FIX. WE THEN MADE A NORMAL LNDG. THE PROBS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THIS ALT BUST WERE: 1) INTERNAL NAV PROBS. 2) ATC KEEPING US HIGH AND FAST FOR THE INITIAL APCH SEGMENT. 3) ACFT DID NOT HAVE A SEPARATE DME HEAD (HAD TO SWITCH BACK AND FORTH FROM ILS TO ATL VOR). 4) BY THE THIRD APCH, THE CREW WAS FRUSTRATED WITH THE SITUATION AND OVERLOADED.

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.