Corp aircraft flight crew misreads VOR approach. Tunes wrong VOR.

Attributes
ACN	187640
Time
Date	199108
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : msy
State Reference	LA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1700 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : msy
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	approach : circling
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 105 flight time total : 7500
ASRS Report	187640
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While descending into the new orleans area we were deviating around thunderstorms in the area. ATC had given us permission to do so at 3000 ft MSL. We were cleared for the VOR DME 18L approach via the 17 mi arc. At this point were well east of the field. I tuned in harvey VOR the inbound course and picked up the 17 DME arc. The 17 DME off harvey 167 degree radial is the FAF. The approach was made (with difficulty) and a circling landing 36L was accomplished with no problems except for the steep descent to the MDA. Upon reviewing the approach upon the advice of a controller, I discovered the DME arc was off msy VOR. I had turned inbound 6 mi prematurely. Extra care should have been taken when looking over the approach. I am not the first to make this mistake, and probably won't be the last. Attention should be brought to this abnormal procedure, or it should be changed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CORP ACFT FLC MISREADS VOR APCH. TUNES WRONG VOR.

Narrative: WHILE DSNDING INTO THE NEW ORLEANS AREA WE WERE DEVIATING AROUND TSTMS IN THE AREA. ATC HAD GIVEN US PERMISSION TO DO SO AT 3000 FT MSL. WE WERE CLRED FOR THE VOR DME 18L APCH VIA THE 17 MI ARC. AT THIS POINT WERE WELL E OF THE FIELD. I TUNED IN HARVEY VOR THE INBOUND COURSE AND PICKED UP THE 17 DME ARC. THE 17 DME OFF HARVEY 167 DEG RADIAL IS THE FAF. THE APCH WAS MADE (WITH DIFFICULTY) AND A CIRCLING LNDG 36L WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITH NO PROBLEMS EXCEPT FOR THE STEEP DSCNT TO THE MDA. UPON REVIEWING THE APCH UPON THE ADVICE OF A CTLR, I DISCOVERED THE DME ARC WAS OFF MSY VOR. I HAD TURNED INBOUND 6 MI PREMATURELY. EXTRA CARE SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN WHEN LOOKING OVER THE APCH. I AM NOT THE FIRST TO MAKE THIS MISTAKE, AND PROBABLY WON'T BE THE LAST. ATTN SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO THIS ABNORMAL PROC, OR IT SHOULD BE CHANGED.

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.