Reporter failed to comply with VOR approach procedure altitudes.

Attributes
ACN	317720
Time
Date	199510
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : shb airport : hfy airport : 3sm
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1380 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ind
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 14 flight time total : 510 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	317720
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Took off from 3SM in marginal VFR conditions for short flight to hfy. Was on top VFR at 3000 ft and did not think a VFR approach could be made to hfy. Asked approach for VOR approach to hfy. Misread the approach plate and descended to MDA after crossing shb inbound rather than the step down fix 7 mi/DME from shb. Was told of mistake by approach, but was VFR at this altitude and continued to land at hfy. This error was clearly caused by myself (pilot). I did not read approach plate properly, caused by lack of proper flight planning for IFR flight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR FAILED TO COMPLY WITH VOR APCH PROC ALTS.

Narrative: TOOK OFF FROM 3SM IN MARGINAL VFR CONDITIONS FOR SHORT FLT TO HFY. WAS ON TOP VFR AT 3000 FT AND DID NOT THINK A VFR APCH COULD BE MADE TO HFY. ASKED APCH FOR VOR APCH TO HFY. MISREAD THE APCH PLATE AND DSNDED TO MDA AFTER XING SHB INBOUND RATHER THAN THE STEP DOWN FIX 7 MI/DME FROM SHB. WAS TOLD OF MISTAKE BY APCH, BUT WAS VFR AT THIS ALT AND CONTINUED TO LAND AT HFY. THIS ERROR WAS CLRLY CAUSED BY MYSELF (PLT). I DID NOT READ APCH PLATE PROPERLY, CAUSED BY LACK OF PROPER FLT PLANNING FOR IFR FLT.

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.