Small aircraft in IMC descends below published altitude on back course approach.

Attributes
ACN	256651
Time
Date	199311
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : rfd
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1700 msl bound upper : 2400
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : rfd
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 48 flight time total : 185 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	256651
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On approach to rfd, I was informed 'at toddy, contact the tower.' toddy is final approach fix inbound. I looked at VOR which was not indicating the intersection and it appeared that I had it dialed in wrong. Without further checking, since I was having trouble maintaining course, I went down toward MDA (1240). At approximately 1800 I broke out of the clouds and quickly saw that I was too far out. I then quickly climbed back up to 2400 ft. I then realized that I was outside of toddy and that I had been asked to contact the tower when I reached toddy. Contributing factors were poor preparation for the approach, made worse by my believing that I had already arrived and was behind. Also contributing was the difficulty I had in flying a back course as well as my inexperience in IMC conditions, 3 hours actual.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA IN IMC DSNDS BELOW PUBLISHED ALT ON BACK COURSE APCH.

Narrative: ON APCH TO RFD, I WAS INFORMED 'AT TODDY, CONTACT THE TWR.' TODDY IS FINAL APCH FIX INBOUND. I LOOKED AT VOR WHICH WAS NOT INDICATING THE INTXN AND IT APPEARED THAT I HAD IT DIALED IN WRONG. WITHOUT FURTHER CHKING, SINCE I WAS HAVING TROUBLE MAINTAINING COURSE, I WENT DOWN TOWARD MDA (1240). AT APPROX 1800 I BROKE OUT OF THE CLOUDS AND QUICKLY SAW THAT I WAS TOO FAR OUT. I THEN QUICKLY CLBED BACK UP TO 2400 FT. I THEN REALIZED THAT I WAS OUTSIDE OF TODDY AND THAT I HAD BEEN ASKED TO CONTACT THE TWR WHEN I REACHED TODDY. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE POOR PREPARATION FOR THE APCH, MADE WORSE BY MY BELIEVING THAT I HAD ALREADY ARRIVED AND WAS BEHIND. ALSO CONTRIBUTING WAS THE DIFFICULTY I HAD IN FLYING A BACK COURSE AS WELL AS MY INEXPERIENCE IN IMC CONDITIONS, 3 HRS ACTUAL.

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.