Small transport on ILS approach told low altitude alert activated.

Attributes
ACN	273832
Time
Date	199406
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mem
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1350 msl bound upper : 1350
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : mem
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Super King Air 200 HDC
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : observer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 45 flight time total : 4350 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	273832
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While serving as a PNF on a beech king air 200 (BE20) on an IFR flight plan from destin, fl (81J) to memphis, tn (mem), we were instructed to fly the ILS 27 approach to mem. The autoplt was engaged and the approach mode was selected we coupled and up to the localizer and were tracking it inbound. Apparently the GS never coupled, however the aircraft had begun a constant rate of descent at what I would estimate to be a distance of 3/4-1 mi horizontal from the threshold, mem tower advised 'low altitude alert. I show you presently at 1300 ft.' I responded , 'identify is visual.' given the fact that it was VFR at this time with visibilities in excess of 10 mi, this should have provided confirmation to the controller that we did have the runway in sight. We proceeded and landed without incident. I believe that improper vigilance is partially to blame for this on both the pilots part as well as mine. Even though I was not actually manipulating the controls, vigilance might have prevented this situation. Another factor that I feel contributed to this is poor annunciation of the condition we experienced -- localizer coupled and GS not. I suspect the GS reception ability of the #1 navigation and will further investigate any other GS deviations as soon as possible. The radio may be in need of repair.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMT ON ILS APCH TOLD LOW ALT ALERT ACTIVATED.

Narrative: WHILE SERVING AS A PNF ON A BEECH KING AIR 200 (BE20) ON AN IFR FLT PLAN FROM DESTIN, FL (81J) TO MEMPHIS, TN (MEM), WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO FLY THE ILS 27 APCH TO MEM. THE AUTOPLT WAS ENGAGED AND THE APCH MODE WAS SELECTED WE COUPLED AND UP TO THE LOC AND WERE TRACKING IT INBOUND. APPARENTLY THE GS NEVER COUPLED, HOWEVER THE ACFT HAD BEGUN A CONSTANT RATE OF DSCNT AT WHAT I WOULD ESTIMATE TO BE A DISTANCE OF 3/4-1 MI HORIZ FROM THE THRESHOLD, MEM TWR ADVISED 'LOW ALT ALERT. I SHOW YOU PRESENTLY AT 1300 FT.' I RESPONDED , 'IDENT IS VISUAL.' GIVEN THE FACT THAT IT WAS VFR AT THIS TIME WITH VISIBILITIES IN EXCESS OF 10 MI, THIS SHOULD HAVE PROVIDED CONFIRMATION TO THE CTLR THAT WE DID HAVE THE RWY IN SIGHT. WE PROCEEDED AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. I BELIEVE THAT IMPROPER VIGILANCE IS PARTIALLY TO BLAME FOR THIS ON BOTH THE PLTS PART AS WELL AS MINE. EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT ACTUALLY MANIPULATING THE CTLS, VIGILANCE MIGHT HAVE PREVENTED THIS SIT. ANOTHER FACTOR THAT I FEEL CONTRIBUTED TO THIS IS POOR ANNUNCIATION OF THE CONDITION WE EXPERIENCED -- LOC COUPLED AND GS NOT. I SUSPECT THE GS RECEPTION ABILITY OF THE #1 NAV AND WILL FURTHER INVESTIGATE ANY OTHER GS DEVS ASAP. THE RADIO MAY BE IN NEED OF REPAIR.

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.