An incorrect DME mode was selected by the PF, which placed the aircraft 10 mi away from intended pos...

Attributes
ACN	300692
Time
Date	199504
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bka airport : sit
State Reference	AK
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zan
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute airway : zan
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 10500
ASRS Report	300692
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other other spatial deviation other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Inbound to sitka, the lda DME runway 11 approach was fully briefed. This was the first time the crew had flown together and the first time in this particular aircraft for the captain. Captain started to turn on 20 DME arc at 23 DME at 250 KTS. Copilot asked at that time if it was a 30 DME arc (trial balloon). Established on the arc the copilot said 'you are still on VLF navigation on the DME.' this put us 8 mi outside the arc. We immediately stopped our descent and turned toward the original inbound radial. Since we were on top we maintained 5000 ft which was the last assigned altitude 'until intercepting a published portion of the approach.' the rest of the approach was normal. As a captain I was too nonchalant about the differences in avionics packages between this aircraft and the aircraft normally flown. When the copilot (who had not flown this route before) queried me as I turned on the arc I took it as a question on his part, rather than a question of my execution of the procedure. On a flight which had built in contributing factors, I did not bring enough paranoia along.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN INCORRECT DME MODE WAS SELECTED BY THE PF, WHICH PLACED THE ACFT 10 MI AWAY FROM INTENDED POS ON AN IAP.

Narrative: INBOUND TO SITKA, THE LDA DME RWY 11 APCH WAS FULLY BRIEFED. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THE CREW HAD FLOWN TOGETHER AND THE FIRST TIME IN THIS PARTICULAR ACFT FOR THE CAPT. CAPT STARTED TO TURN ON 20 DME ARC AT 23 DME AT 250 KTS. COPLT ASKED AT THAT TIME IF IT WAS A 30 DME ARC (TRIAL BALLOON). ESTABLISHED ON THE ARC THE COPLT SAID 'YOU ARE STILL ON VLF NAV ON THE DME.' THIS PUT US 8 MI OUTSIDE THE ARC. WE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED OUR DSCNT AND TURNED TOWARD THE ORIGINAL INBOUND RADIAL. SINCE WE WERE ON TOP WE MAINTAINED 5000 FT WHICH WAS THE LAST ASSIGNED ALT 'UNTIL INTERCEPTING A PUBLISHED PORTION OF THE APCH.' THE REST OF THE APCH WAS NORMAL. AS A CAPT I WAS TOO NONCHALANT ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES IN AVIONICS PACKAGES BTWN THIS ACFT AND THE ACFT NORMALLY FLOWN. WHEN THE COPLT (WHO HAD NOT FLOWN THIS RTE BEFORE) QUERIED ME AS I TURNED ON THE ARC I TOOK IT AS A QUESTION ON HIS PART, RATHER THAN A QUESTION OF MY EXECUTION OF THE PROC. ON A FLT WHICH HAD BUILT IN CONTRIBUTING FACTORS, I DID NOT BRING ENOUGH PARANOIA ALONG.

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.

An incorrect DME mode was selected by the PF, which placed the aircraft 10 mi away from intended position on an IAP.