Commuter makes NDB approach without procedure turn as depicted.

Attributes
ACN	241056
Time
Date	199305
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tqpf
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 800 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : tqpf
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Transport
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 2900
ASRS Report	241056
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Flight was cleared direct ANG NDB from en route phase, established on B-520. We were cleared down from FL170 to 3000 ft. Upon reaching 3000 ft, captain turned to intercept the final approach course for the NDB runway 10 approach. We were not in radar contact at this time. When the captain thought he was within the 10 mi radius, which cannot be determined, he proceeded to descend to 1500 ft. 1500 ft is the altitude which you can descend to outbound on the procedure turn. When the captain determined he was close enough (approximately 5 mi) he descended to 800 ft MSL. He was going to hold that till crossing ANG NDB then descend to the MDA until the missed approach. I reminded the captain that he needed to execute the full approach (including procedure turn) in order to accurately determine our location in relation to ANG NDB. He argued a little but said this is the way he normally executes the approach. I deemed it better to let him fly the aircraft than to take over. Upon discussing the approach on the ground, he totally believed he was correct in what he was doing. WX conditions: light rain, scattered clouds at 800-1000 ft, no thunderstorms indicates on radar. We broke out and had intermittent ground (island) contact approximately 3-4 mi out. Runway not in sight until 1 1/2 mi final.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMMUTER MAKES NDB APCH WITHOUT PROC TURN AS DEPICTED.

Narrative: FLT WAS CLRED DIRECT ANG NDB FROM ENRTE PHASE, ESTABLISHED ON B-520. WE WERE CLRED DOWN FROM FL170 TO 3000 FT. UPON REACHING 3000 FT, CAPT TURNED TO INTERCEPT THE FINAL APCH COURSE FOR THE NDB RWY 10 APCH. WE WERE NOT IN RADAR CONTACT AT THIS TIME. WHEN THE CAPT THOUGHT HE WAS WITHIN THE 10 MI RADIUS, WHICH CANNOT BE DETERMINED, HE PROCEEDED TO DSND TO 1500 FT. 1500 FT IS THE ALT WHICH YOU CAN DSND TO OUTBOUND ON THE PROC TURN. WHEN THE CAPT DETERMINED HE WAS CLOSE ENOUGH (APPROX 5 MI) HE DSNDED TO 800 FT MSL. HE WAS GOING TO HOLD THAT TILL XING ANG NDB THEN DSND TO THE MDA UNTIL THE MISSED APCH. I REMINDED THE CAPT THAT HE NEEDED TO EXECUTE THE FULL APCH (INCLUDING PROC TURN) IN ORDER TO ACCURATELY DETERMINE OUR LOCATION IN RELATION TO ANG NDB. HE ARGUED A LITTLE BUT SAID THIS IS THE WAY HE NORMALLY EXECUTES THE APCH. I DEEMED IT BETTER TO LET HIM FLY THE ACFT THAN TO TAKE OVER. UPON DISCUSSING THE APCH ON THE GND, HE TOTALLY BELIEVED HE WAS CORRECT IN WHAT HE WAS DOING. WX CONDITIONS: LIGHT RAIN, SCATTERED CLOUDS AT 800-1000 FT, NO TSTMS INDICATES ON RADAR. WE BROKE OUT AND HAD INTERMITTENT GND (ISLAND) CONTACT APPROX 3-4 MI OUT. RWY NOT IN SIGHT UNTIL 1 1/2 MI FINAL.

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.