Government pilot descends below assigned altitude on approach procedure.

Attributes
ACN	332480
Time
Date	199604
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : iah
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1700 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : iah tower : tus
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	332480
Person 2
Affiliation	government : military
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : published procedure
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:

Call sign government XXX misread approach plate. TACAN to runway 04 at ellington field. While arcing 20 mi final, plate said 3000 ft maximum crossing altitude at 190 degree radial -- read it as 3000 ft maximum crossing altitude at 190 degree radial and went to 1700 ft a little early. Transitioned from IMC to VMC descending through 2500 ft. No conflicts or problems noted. Caused by lack of familiarity with non precision approach to runway 04 and a remembered requirement to be below 3000 ft on arcing approachs to runways 22 and 17. Won't happen again.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GOV PLT DSNDS BELOW ASSIGNED ALT ON APCH PROC.

Narrative: CALL SIGN GOV XXX MISREAD APCH PLATE. TACAN TO RWY 04 AT ELLINGTON FIELD. WHILE ARCING 20 MI FINAL, PLATE SAID 3000 FT MAX XING ALT AT 190 DEG RADIAL -- READ IT AS 3000 FT MAX XING ALT AT 190 DEG RADIAL AND WENT TO 1700 FT A LITTLE EARLY. TRANSITIONED FROM IMC TO VMC DSNDING THROUGH 2500 FT. NO CONFLICTS OR PROBS NOTED. CAUSED BY LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH NON PRECISION APCH TO RWY 04 AND A REMEMBERED REQUIREMENT TO BE BELOW 3000 FT ON ARCING APCHS TO RWYS 22 AND 17. WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

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.