Narrative:

Cleared direct to hgr VOR. Controller was vectoring me to final approach course. Inbound to VOR is 246 degree radial 066 degree inbound to VOR, which is final approach fix then 091 degree radial to runway 9. I misread plate and was thinking the 246 degree radial was for the procedure turn. I was vectored on a 180 degree heading as I was approaching the 271 degree radial. Controller got busy with several aircraft checking on center. I was thinking the 271 degree radial was final approach course inbound to the VOR, and the 091 degree inbound to the airport. I initiated a turn to 091 degree and asked to be cleared for approach. Controller questioned it. I responded I would shoot the approach direct, because I thought he was vectoring around for the procedure turn, for some reason. He said maintain 4000 ft until established cleared VOR runway 9 approach contact tower. Since I was not on the correct radial 'established' would not have been until almost to the VOR. I was thinking I was established yet maintained 4000 ft till almost to the FAF, I crossed at 3800 ft and started a 800 FPM descent. Broke out landed without incident. Factors would mainly be fatigue. I was on 13TH hour of duty, 8TH hour of flying. Low cockpit lighting. Failure to properly review approach. Light to moderate turbulence causing a high workload to fly instruments. First thing that got my attention was the 4000 ft till established. When approach altitude was 3400 ft and 2400 ft established. After landing I looked at the plate again and saw immediately what the problem was. In future I will review approach plate much more carefully.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AERIAL PATROL ACFT MAKES WRONG ENTRY ON VOR APCH.

Narrative: CLRED DIRECT TO HGR VOR. CTLR WAS VECTORING ME TO FINAL APCH COURSE. INBOUND TO VOR IS 246 DEG RADIAL 066 DEG INBOUND TO VOR, WHICH IS FINAL APCH FIX THEN 091 DEG RADIAL TO RWY 9. I MISREAD PLATE AND WAS THINKING THE 246 DEG RADIAL WAS FOR THE PROC TURN. I WAS VECTORED ON A 180 DEG HDG AS I WAS APCHING THE 271 DEG RADIAL. CTLR GOT BUSY WITH SEVERAL ACFT CHKING ON CTR. I WAS THINKING THE 271 DEG RADIAL WAS FINAL APCH COURSE INBOUND TO THE VOR, AND THE 091 DEG INBOUND TO THE ARPT. I INITIATED A TURN TO 091 DEG AND ASKED TO BE CLRED FOR APCH. CTLR QUESTIONED IT. I RESPONDED I WOULD SHOOT THE APCH DIRECT, BECAUSE I THOUGHT HE WAS VECTORING AROUND FOR THE PROC TURN, FOR SOME REASON. HE SAID MAINTAIN 4000 FT UNTIL ESTABLISHED CLRED VOR RWY 9 APCH CONTACT TWR. SINCE I WAS NOT ON THE CORRECT RADIAL 'ESTABLISHED' WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN UNTIL ALMOST TO THE VOR. I WAS THINKING I WAS ESTABLISHED YET MAINTAINED 4000 FT TILL ALMOST TO THE FAF, I CROSSED AT 3800 FT AND STARTED A 800 FPM DSCNT. BROKE OUT LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. FACTORS WOULD MAINLY BE FATIGUE. I WAS ON 13TH HR OF DUTY, 8TH HR OF FLYING. LOW COCKPIT LIGHTING. FAILURE TO PROPERLY REVIEW APCH. LIGHT TO MODERATE TURB CAUSING A HIGH WORKLOAD TO FLY INSTS. FIRST THING THAT GOT MY ATTN WAS THE 4000 FT TILL ESTABLISHED. WHEN APCH ALT WAS 3400 FT AND 2400 FT ESTABLISHED. AFTER LNDG I LOOKED AT THE PLATE AGAIN AND SAW IMMEDIATELY WHAT THE PROB WAS. IN FUTURE I WILL REVIEW APCH PLATE MUCH MORE CAREFULLY.

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.