Narrative:

On approach into mfr, the ATIS gave the landing runway as ILS to 14. ATC gave a vector for 32 localizer back course. Then shortly thereafter changed clearance to direct to mfr VOR and maintain 10000 ft. We queried what approach they were planning? ATC told us to switch to mfr approach for further clearance. Mfr approach cleared us to the mfr VOR and maintain 8000 ft, then asked if we wanted a 32 localizer back course. We requested ILS DME, as we were too close to mfr to attempt a localizer to 32. We were then cleared to 6000 ft as we crossed the mfr VOR. We both had our vors tuned as we tracked the 314 degree radial outbound. Flight conditions were broken layers, at 6000 ft we were VFR between layers. The procedure turn started at the 14.4 DME fix on the localizer. Our mistake, was we went to 14.4. DME on the VOR, then made a tear drop pattern to reverse course. Captain turned the first officer's (PF) to localizer frequency and realized the mistake. At that point we were 27 DME on the localizer. Approximately 8 mi further out than we should have been. We immediately turned back to the localizer path and flew the rest of the approach normally. I checked right away the obstacles in the area and the highest was 4700 ft. We were at 6000 ft and VFR. Once established on localizer path we did get a terrain warning on the GPWS, but because we were VFR stayed at 6000 ft until intercepting the GS. The uncertainty of which approach we were to use, as well as a not thorough enough briefing of the approach caused both to overlook the important DME fix. The lack of approach radar at mfr, and no ILS DME approach in the FMC were factors that would have helped.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF MLG CLRED FOR ILS APCH STARTED PROC TURN 8 MI N OF DESIGNATED POINT.

Narrative: ON APCH INTO MFR, THE ATIS GAVE THE LNDG RWY AS ILS TO 14. ATC GAVE A VECTOR FOR 32 LOC BC. THEN SHORTLY THEREAFTER CHANGED CLRNC TO DIRECT TO MFR VOR AND MAINTAIN 10000 FT. WE QUERIED WHAT APCH THEY WERE PLANNING? ATC TOLD US TO SWITCH TO MFR APCH FOR FURTHER CLRNC. MFR APCH CLRED US TO THE MFR VOR AND MAINTAIN 8000 FT, THEN ASKED IF WE WANTED A 32 LOC BC. WE REQUESTED ILS DME, AS WE WERE TOO CLOSE TO MFR TO ATTEMPT A LOC TO 32. WE WERE THEN CLRED TO 6000 FT AS WE CROSSED THE MFR VOR. WE BOTH HAD OUR VORS TUNED AS WE TRACKED THE 314 DEG RADIAL OUTBOUND. FLT CONDITIONS WERE BROKEN LAYERS, AT 6000 FT WE WERE VFR BTWN LAYERS. THE PROC TURN STARTED AT THE 14.4 DME FIX ON THE LOC. OUR MISTAKE, WAS WE WENT TO 14.4. DME ON THE VOR, THEN MADE A TEAR DROP PATTERN TO REVERSE COURSE. CAPT TURNED THE FO'S (PF) TO LOC FREQ AND REALIZED THE MISTAKE. AT THAT POINT WE WERE 27 DME ON THE LOC. APPROX 8 MI FURTHER OUT THAN WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN. WE IMMEDIATELY TURNED BACK TO THE LOC PATH AND FLEW THE REST OF THE APCH NORMALLY. I CHKED RIGHT AWAY THE OBSTACLES IN THE AREA AND THE HIGHEST WAS 4700 FT. WE WERE AT 6000 FT AND VFR. ONCE ESTABLISHED ON LOC PATH WE DID GET A TERRAIN WARNING ON THE GPWS, BUT BECAUSE WE WERE VFR STAYED AT 6000 FT UNTIL INTERCEPTING THE GS. THE UNCERTAINTY OF WHICH APCH WE WERE TO USE, AS WELL AS A NOT THOROUGH ENOUGH BRIEFING OF THE APCH CAUSED BOTH TO OVERLOOK THE IMPORTANT DME FIX. THE LACK OF APCH RADAR AT MFR, AND NO ILS DME APCH IN THE FMC WERE FACTORS THAT WOULD HAVE HELPED.

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.