Corp flight crew locks DME on wrong facility. Approach controller issues low altitude warning.

Attributes
ACN	195342
Time
Date	199111
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bfi
State Reference	WA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 700 msl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sea
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 3700 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	195342
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We descended to various step down altitudes on approach based on DME. During the final step down (1600 ft - 700 ft) the approach controller got an altitude warning on us and notified us we were too low. Our DME had been in 'hold' off the sea VOR by mistake, and not the bfi localizer as they should have been. When the controller called we were just breaking out, we stopped descent, got the field in sight and landed normally. Both pilots had been on duty for +12 hours and dealing with WX, ice, etc. Fatigue was a factor. My reliance on the other pilot to set up the approach was also a factor. We fly together often and are both good instrument pilots (most of the time)! Thank you ATC for having this altitude warning capability -- we are embarrassed and wiser -- but very much alive!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CORP FLC LOCKS DME ON WRONG FACILITY. APCH CTLR ISSUES LOW ALT WARNING.

Narrative: WE DSNDED TO VARIOUS STEP DOWN ALTS ON APCH BASED ON DME. DURING THE FINAL STEP DOWN (1600 FT - 700 FT) THE APCH CTLR GOT AN ALT WARNING ON US AND NOTIFIED US WE WERE TOO LOW. OUR DME HAD BEEN IN 'HOLD' OFF THE SEA VOR BY MISTAKE, AND NOT THE BFI LOC AS THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN. WHEN THE CTLR CALLED WE WERE JUST BREAKING OUT, WE STOPPED DSCNT, GOT THE FIELD IN SIGHT AND LANDED NORMALLY. BOTH PLTS HAD BEEN ON DUTY FOR +12 HRS AND DEALING WITH WX, ICE, ETC. FATIGUE WAS A FACTOR. MY RELIANCE ON THE OTHER PLT TO SET UP THE APCH WAS ALSO A FACTOR. WE FLY TOGETHER OFTEN AND ARE BOTH GOOD INST PLTS (MOST OF THE TIME)! THANK YOU ATC FOR HAVING THIS ALT WARNING CAPABILITY -- WE ARE EMBARRASSED AND WISER -- BUT VERY MUCH ALIVE!

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.