Narrative:

Due to a recent cost saving measure, my employer does not supply first officer's with a 'complete' (all company approved landing airports) set of instrument approach procedures. Therefore, it did not seem unusual not to have an instrument approach procedure for new iberia, la, (ara) after being assigned a ferry flight to ara. Since capts maintain a current and complete set of instrument procedures, I assumed the captain had all necessary procedures. After pushing back from the gate I became aware the captain did not have any instrument procedures for ara. Current WX in lft, approximately 10 mi north of ara was 1200 broken 7 mi visibility forecasted to improve. Knowing that we could divert to lft (we both had instrument approach procedures to lft), the decision was made to proceed to ara. Upon arriving at ara the WX was marginal VFR and the captain received a 'verbal' approach brief (NDB 34) from the approach controller. It was determined that our initial altitude was 1600 ft MSL to the FAF and the MDA was 420 ft MSL. The FAF was approximately 4.4 mi from the airport. Approximately 4 mi before the FAF the captain instructed me to descend to MDA. I replied, 'the NDB is 4.4 mi from the airport, we're not there yet.' the RMI indicated the NDB was still ahead of the aircraft. The captain then instructed me, 'descend now.' noting some agitation in his voice and having visual contact with the ground I began to descend. At 700 ft MSL the approach controller queried us to verify altitude and do we have the ground in sight. The captain replied, '700 ft and we have the ground in sight.' the flight continued and we landed without further incident.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG ON A FERRY FLT LEFT THE APCH ALT BEFORE REACHING THE FAF.

Narrative: DUE TO A RECENT COST SAVING MEASURE, MY EMPLOYER DOES NOT SUPPLY FO'S WITH A 'COMPLETE' (ALL COMPANY APPROVED LNDG ARPTS) SET OF INST APCH PROCS. THEREFORE, IT DID NOT SEEM UNUSUAL NOT TO HAVE AN INST APCH PROC FOR NEW IBERIA, LA, (ARA) AFTER BEING ASSIGNED A FERRY FLT TO ARA. SINCE CAPTS MAINTAIN A CURRENT AND COMPLETE SET OF INST PROCS, I ASSUMED THE CAPT HAD ALL NECESSARY PROCS. AFTER PUSHING BACK FROM THE GATE I BECAME AWARE THE CAPT DID NOT HAVE ANY INST PROCS FOR ARA. CURRENT WX IN LFT, APPROX 10 MI N OF ARA WAS 1200 BROKEN 7 MI VISIBILITY FORECASTED TO IMPROVE. KNOWING THAT WE COULD DIVERT TO LFT (WE BOTH HAD INST APCH PROCS TO LFT), THE DECISION WAS MADE TO PROCEED TO ARA. UPON ARRIVING AT ARA THE WX WAS MARGINAL VFR AND THE CAPT RECEIVED A 'VERBAL' APCH BRIEF (NDB 34) FROM THE APCH CTLR. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT OUR INITIAL ALT WAS 1600 FT MSL TO THE FAF AND THE MDA WAS 420 FT MSL. THE FAF WAS APPROX 4.4 MI FROM THE ARPT. APPROX 4 MI BEFORE THE FAF THE CAPT INSTRUCTED ME TO DSND TO MDA. I REPLIED, 'THE NDB IS 4.4 MI FROM THE ARPT, WE'RE NOT THERE YET.' THE RMI INDICATED THE NDB WAS STILL AHEAD OF THE ACFT. THE CAPT THEN INSTRUCTED ME, 'DSND NOW.' NOTING SOME AGITATION IN HIS VOICE AND HAVING VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE GND I BEGAN TO DSND. AT 700 FT MSL THE APCH CTLR QUERIED US TO VERIFY ALT AND DO WE HAVE THE GND IN SIGHT. THE CAPT REPLIED, '700 FT AND WE HAVE THE GND IN SIGHT.' THE FLT CONTINUED AND WE LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

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.