Narrative:

I was being vectored for landing at spx. I asked the controller for a VOR approach to get below the undercast (1200 ft broken). I was expecting to get 'VOR runway 13' into spx when the controller directed me to go direct scholes VOR (vuh). Over the radio it sounded like 'shells.' this caused me some confusion because I didn't know there was a shells VOR. Then I realized he was talking about scholes, which I thought was galveston (gls). While this was going on, the controller gave me a descent to 6000 ft. Now I figured out, I had the wrong plate. I hurriedly reviewed the plate and prepared for approach. In addition, I am trying to figure out why my DME is not working, which added to the confusion. About this time the controller gave me vectors to final approach course and a descent to 2000 ft. Now I must set the obs to 320 degrees, turn and descend. Not having DME, I did not know how far I was from vuh, so I assumed I was getting a slam-dunk (which as it turns out, I wasn't) and hurriedly and wrongly set the obs to inbound courses of 310 degrees. With no DME, I had to use a xradial for final approach fix. Using a xradial is more difficult and requires more mental effort than DME. Now the controller gave me the intended course, maintain 2000 ft until established, cleared for approach. I turned to the intercept heading and am still descending. No, I'm trying to descend, configure aircraft and intercept course all at the same time. Before I knew it I was at 1700 ft, 200 ft below minimum altitude for this segment of the approach. I climbed back to 1900 ft. Now I'm really behind aircraft. I realized now that my obs was set wrong. I reset to 320 degrees and tried to correct to get back on course. Here was my biggest mistake. I noted crossing final approach fix and started my descent while trying to get back on course. Fortunately, I broke out of overcast at 1200 ft and it was VFR. I found the airport and landed. Looking back, I should have asked for a delay to prepare for the approach and when I realized I had set wrong course I should have executed the missed. Don't know why I didn't. I think it was because I knew it was VFR below, or maybe get homeitis. I do know if it had been solid IMC down to minimums I would have executed the missed because I remember thinking about that when I asked for the approach.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HDG TRACK POS ALTDEV DURING IAP VOR APCH BY PVT PLT.

Narrative: I WAS BEING VECTORED FOR LNDG AT SPX. I ASKED THE CTLR FOR A VOR APCH TO GET BELOW THE UNDERCAST (1200 FT BROKEN). I WAS EXPECTING TO GET 'VOR RWY 13' INTO SPX WHEN THE CTLR DIRECTED ME TO GO DIRECT SCHOLES VOR (VUH). OVER THE RADIO IT SOUNDED LIKE 'SHELLS.' THIS CAUSED ME SOME CONFUSION BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS A SHELLS VOR. THEN I REALIZED HE WAS TALKING ABOUT SCHOLES, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS GALVESTON (GLS). WHILE THIS WAS GOING ON, THE CTLR GAVE ME A DSCNT TO 6000 FT. NOW I FIGURED OUT, I HAD THE WRONG PLATE. I HURRIEDLY REVIEWED THE PLATE AND PREPARED FOR APCH. IN ADDITION, I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY MY DME IS NOT WORKING, WHICH ADDED TO THE CONFUSION. ABOUT THIS TIME THE CTLR GAVE ME VECTORS TO FINAL APCH COURSE AND A DSCNT TO 2000 FT. NOW I MUST SET THE OBS TO 320 DEGS, TURN AND DSND. NOT HAVING DME, I DID NOT KNOW HOW FAR I WAS FROM VUH, SO I ASSUMED I WAS GETTING A SLAM-DUNK (WHICH AS IT TURNS OUT, I WASN'T) AND HURRIEDLY AND WRONGLY SET THE OBS TO INBOUND COURSES OF 310 DEGS. WITH NO DME, I HAD TO USE A XRADIAL FOR FINAL APCH FIX. USING A XRADIAL IS MORE DIFFICULT AND REQUIRES MORE MENTAL EFFORT THAN DME. NOW THE CTLR GAVE ME THE INTENDED COURSE, MAINTAIN 2000 FT UNTIL ESTABLISHED, CLRED FOR APCH. I TURNED TO THE INTERCEPT HDG AND AM STILL DSNDING. NO, I'M TRYING TO DSND, CONFIGURE ACFT AND INTERCEPT COURSE ALL AT THE SAME TIME. BEFORE I KNEW IT I WAS AT 1700 FT, 200 FT BELOW MINIMUM ALT FOR THIS SEGMENT OF THE APCH. I CLBED BACK TO 1900 FT. NOW I'M REALLY BEHIND ACFT. I REALIZED NOW THAT MY OBS WAS SET WRONG. I RESET TO 320 DEGS AND TRIED TO CORRECT TO GET BACK ON COURSE. HERE WAS MY BIGGEST MISTAKE. I NOTED XING FINAL APCH FIX AND STARTED MY DSCNT WHILE TRYING TO GET BACK ON COURSE. FORTUNATELY, I BROKE OUT OF OVCST AT 1200 FT AND IT WAS VFR. I FOUND THE ARPT AND LANDED. LOOKING BACK, I SHOULD HAVE ASKED FOR A DELAY TO PREPARE FOR THE APCH AND WHEN I REALIZED I HAD SET WRONG COURSE I SHOULD HAVE EXECUTED THE MISSED. DON'T KNOW WHY I DIDN'T. I THINK IT WAS BECAUSE I KNEW IT WAS VFR BELOW, OR MAYBE GET HOMEITIS. I DO KNOW IF IT HAD BEEN SOLID IMC DOWN TO MINIMUMS I WOULD HAVE EXECUTED THE MISSED BECAUSE I REMEMBER THINKING ABOUT THAT WHEN I ASKED FOR THE APCH.

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.