Unauthorized descent to MDA prior to fix. IAP VOR approach.

Attributes
ACN	297116
Time
Date	199502
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : gee airport : 3g8
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1660 msl bound upper : 2700
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : roc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 45 flight time total : 2200 flight time type : 750
ASRS Report	297116
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far non adherence : clearance
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:

While on an IFR approach descending from 13000 ft, I descended to 1660 ft (MDA) prior to lener. I was very concerned about icing and not missing the approach. A twin ahead of me had missed and I wanted to be sure I got down to MDA without having to cold shock my engine. I changed my destination from roc to 3g8 at the last min after hearing the ATIS and asking about icing. I realize now I should have planned ahead better knowing it would be a high workload situation. I had ground contact about 2900 ft (100 ft below required at hurta intersection) and focused on getting to 1660 ft so as not to miss the approach. I landed safely, but was trying to figure out why I had to fly so long at 1660 ft before I saw the airport. It was then I realized my error. Better preparation and review of approach would prevent this from happening again.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNAUTH DSCNT TO MDA PRIOR TO FIX. IAP VOR APCH.

Narrative: WHILE ON AN IFR APCH DSNDING FROM 13000 FT, I DSNDED TO 1660 FT (MDA) PRIOR TO LENER. I WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT ICING AND NOT MISSING THE APCH. A TWIN AHEAD OF ME HAD MISSED AND I WANTED TO BE SURE I GOT DOWN TO MDA WITHOUT HAVING TO COLD SHOCK MY ENG. I CHANGED MY DEST FROM ROC TO 3G8 AT THE LAST MIN AFTER HEARING THE ATIS AND ASKING ABOUT ICING. I REALIZE NOW I SHOULD HAVE PLANNED AHEAD BETTER KNOWING IT WOULD BE A HIGH WORKLOAD SIT. I HAD GND CONTACT ABOUT 2900 FT (100 FT BELOW REQUIRED AT HURTA INTXN) AND FOCUSED ON GETTING TO 1660 FT SO AS NOT TO MISS THE APCH. I LANDED SAFELY, BUT WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY I HAD TO FLY SO LONG AT 1660 FT BEFORE I SAW THE ARPT. IT WAS THEN I REALIZED MY ERROR. BETTER PREPARATION AND REVIEW OF APCH WOULD PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.

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.