Narrative:

We were cleared to maintain either 3000 MSL or 2100 MSL until established. Things appeared normal, however, I expected a right turn around to the final. As I started to perform the landing checklist items, the problem occurred. As I reached for the checklist, I noticed about 1500 FPM descent rate passing 1200 MSL. I asked where we were going, that I had not heard an OM beacon. Captain replied we were 6.1 DME (a reference to falow OM except both navigation were tuned to isop localizer, no bearing information from sdz available). I now had to rethink and make sure I was correct (I was). About the same time, fayetteville approach called to ask about our altitude and issued a terrain alert. We proceeded to SOP and landed without further problems. In future, both pilots should call out the final approach fix inbound (I generally do). I felt as though I performed properly as a crew member, but we still could have crashed. A more normal descent rate would have given me more time to notice the error. The only thing I felt I should have done is called for a missed approach as soon as I saw our altitude.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR LTT CREW GOT LOW ON THEIR LOC APCH BECAUSE THE CAPT THOUGHT THAT THEY HAD GONE PAST THE OM WHEN IN FACT THEY WERE NOT YET THERE.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED TO MAINTAIN EITHER 3000 MSL OR 2100 MSL UNTIL ESTABLISHED. THINGS APPEARED NORMAL, HOWEVER, I EXPECTED A R TURN AROUND TO THE FINAL. AS I STARTED TO PERFORM THE LNDG CHKLIST ITEMS, THE PROB OCCURRED. AS I REACHED FOR THE CHKLIST, I NOTICED ABOUT 1500 FPM DSCNT RATE PASSING 1200 MSL. I ASKED WHERE WE WERE GOING, THAT I HAD NOT HEARD AN OM BEACON. CAPT REPLIED WE WERE 6.1 DME (A REF TO FALOW OM EXCEPT BOTH NAV WERE TUNED TO ISOP LOC, NO BEARING INFO FROM SDZ AVAILABLE). I NOW HAD TO RETHINK AND MAKE SURE I WAS CORRECT (I WAS). ABOUT THE SAME TIME, FAYETTEVILLE APCH CALLED TO ASK ABOUT OUR ALT AND ISSUED A TERRAIN ALERT. WE PROCEEDED TO SOP AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER PROBS. IN FUTURE, BOTH PLTS SHOULD CALL OUT THE FINAL APCH FIX INBOUND (I GENERALLY DO). I FELT AS THOUGH I PERFORMED PROPERLY AS A CREW MEMBER, BUT WE STILL COULD HAVE CRASHED. A MORE NORMAL DSCNT RATE WOULD HAVE GIVEN ME MORE TIME TO NOTICE THE ERROR. THE ONLY THING I FELT I SHOULD HAVE DONE IS CALLED FOR A MISSED APCH AS SOON AS I SAW OUR ALT.

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.