Narrative:

I was using my approach plate dated may/xx/94 for the VOR runway 26 approach to cma. As I approached baine intersection, at 3200 ft MSL, the mugu controller asked me if I had the new amendments requiring a minimum altitude of 3400 ft (not 2900 ft) at baine and 2600 ft (not 2100 ft) at acrat intersection. I said they must be in book somewhere and climbed immediately to 3400 ft. After baine, I descended to the new minimum altitude of 2600 ft before acrat and flew the rest of the approach and landed without a problem. I checked my book and found no chart NOTAMS on the cma approach. I had gotten my WX briefing from duats, which made no mention of the amendments in the general NOTAMS. I had gotten a tower en route IFR clearance through the whp tower, and there was no mention of such a major change in the approach (a 500 ft increase in the minimum altitude). I called the cma tower by phone and learned that a new flight data computer NOTAM had just been issued and many pilots were flying the old approach used for yrs. Conclusion: a very major change in an approach should get wider publication -- perhaps a general NOTAM advising a check of flight data computer NOTAMS or FSS. Learning about it in IMC while extremely busy in cockpit is dangerous. I was lucky to quickly react and correct my approach safely and without a violation. But other pilots might not!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NOTAM NOT ISSUED IN TIMELY FASHION FOR NEW APCH PLATE MINIMUM XING ALTS.

Narrative: I WAS USING MY APCH PLATE DATED MAY/XX/94 FOR THE VOR RWY 26 APCH TO CMA. AS I APCHED BAINE INTXN, AT 3200 FT MSL, THE MUGU CTLR ASKED ME IF I HAD THE NEW AMENDMENTS REQUIRING A MINIMUM ALT OF 3400 FT (NOT 2900 FT) AT BAINE AND 2600 FT (NOT 2100 FT) AT ACRAT INTXN. I SAID THEY MUST BE IN BOOK SOMEWHERE AND CLBED IMMEDIATELY TO 3400 FT. AFTER BAINE, I DSNDED TO THE NEW MINIMUM ALT OF 2600 FT BEFORE ACRAT AND FLEW THE REST OF THE APCH AND LANDED WITHOUT A PROB. I CHKED MY BOOK AND FOUND NO CHART NOTAMS ON THE CMA APCH. I HAD GOTTEN MY WX BRIEFING FROM DUATS, WHICH MADE NO MENTION OF THE AMENDMENTS IN THE GENERAL NOTAMS. I HAD GOTTEN A TWR ENRTE IFR CLRNC THROUGH THE WHP TWR, AND THERE WAS NO MENTION OF SUCH A MAJOR CHANGE IN THE APCH (A 500 FT INCREASE IN THE MINIMUM ALT). I CALLED THE CMA TWR BY PHONE AND LEARNED THAT A NEW FLT DATA COMPUTER NOTAM HAD JUST BEEN ISSUED AND MANY PLTS WERE FLYING THE OLD APCH USED FOR YRS. CONCLUSION: A VERY MAJOR CHANGE IN AN APCH SHOULD GET WIDER PUB -- PERHAPS A GENERAL NOTAM ADVISING A CHK OF FLT DATA COMPUTER NOTAMS OR FSS. LEARNING ABOUT IT IN IMC WHILE EXTREMELY BUSY IN COCKPIT IS DANGEROUS. I WAS LUCKY TO QUICKLY REACT AND CORRECT MY APCH SAFELY AND WITHOUT A VIOLATION. BUT OTHER PLTS MIGHT NOT!

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.