<< >> NASA ASRS Report 322390, November 1995

Pilot of an small aircraft sel descended below assigned altitude by starting down prior to an approach clearance. In addition failed to make the required procedure turn.

Attributes
ACN	322390
Time
Date	199511
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : oma airport : mle
State Reference	NE
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3600 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : oma tower : mex
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	other other : other pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 825 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	322390
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While en route from sln to mle on an IFR flight plan in VMC, I requested a 'practice' RNAV approach to runway 12 at mle. I was instructed to proceed by my own navigation to bonzai waypoint at 4000 ft for the approach. While so doing, I descended to 3600 ft anticipating the start of the approach at 3000 ft. Following a request, I was then cleared to 3000 ft, and cleared for the approach. Upon reaching the waypoint, I turned on the final approach course without performing the procedure turn. No accident or incident resulted from this unclred altitude change or improper approach procedure.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF AN SMA SEL DSNDED BELOW ASSIGNED ALT BY STARTING DOWN PRIOR TO AN APCH CLRNC. IN ADDITION FAILED TO MAKE THE REQUIRED PROC TURN.

Narrative: WHILE ENRTE FROM SLN TO MLE ON AN IFR FLT PLAN IN VMC, I REQUESTED A 'PRACTICE' RNAV APCH TO RWY 12 AT MLE. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO PROCEED BY MY OWN NAV TO BONZAI WAYPOINT AT 4000 FT FOR THE APCH. WHILE SO DOING, I DSNDED TO 3600 FT ANTICIPATING THE START OF THE APCH AT 3000 FT. FOLLOWING A REQUEST, I WAS THEN CLRED TO 3000 FT, AND CLRED FOR THE APCH. UPON REACHING THE WAYPOINT, I TURNED ON THE FINAL APCH COURSE WITHOUT PERFORMING THE PROC TURN. NO ACCIDENT OR INCIDENT RESULTED FROM THIS UNCLRED ALT CHANGE OR IMPROPER APCH PROC.

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.