Narrative:

After departure from slc about XX00 local, we were cleared by ZLC direct RNAV to bzn. Our cruise altitude was FL390 and about 125 NM out of bzn we were cleared to descend to 15000 ft MSL. Approximately 60 NM out we were cleared, 'turn left 15 degrees, intercept V-343 into bzn.' having not been initially cleared for a victor airway, some confusion arose as we searched for, and finally found, V-343 on the chart. ZLC then said, 'I have you 1 mi east of V-343, cleared for any approach at bzn.' at this time we were about 10500 ft above bzn field elevation (15000 ft MSL) and about 30 NM out, so I started a normal 3 to 1 descent into bzn. In a couple of mins ZLC came back and said, 'I have you below MEA for V-343, recommend you climb.' we immediately added power and climbed to 13500 ft. We had descended 1500 ft below MOCA in mountainous terrain. Factors contributing to this are: 1) we did not have all appropriate charts immediately available and opened to the proper panel. In our defense here we were filed and cleared on the high altitude rtes. It is a 'curve ball' to the pilot to suddenly clear him onto a victor airway. 2) MEA/MOCA's on victor airways are very high relative to the field elevation of bzn. This results in dscnts well in excess of our normal 3 NM/1000 ft vertical drop descent profile. 3) there are no feeder facilities for approachs for aircraft arriving from the south or north. Feeder facilities would help in drawing the pilot's attention to minimum altitudes prior to the approach itself. 4) bzn has no control tower, approach or departure control, no sids or stars. It is a 'naked' airport surrounded by high terrain. 5) this occurred at XX45 am (body time to pilots) at the end of a 9 hour duty period.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727-200 DSNDS BELOW MSA IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

Narrative: AFTER DEP FROM SLC ABOUT XX00 LCL, WE WERE CLRED BY ZLC DIRECT RNAV TO BZN. OUR CRUISE ALT WAS FL390 AND ABOUT 125 NM OUT OF BZN WE WERE CLRED TO DSND TO 15000 FT MSL. APPROX 60 NM OUT WE WERE CLRED, 'TURN L 15 DEGS, INTERCEPT V-343 INTO BZN.' HAVING NOT BEEN INITIALLY CLRED FOR A VICTOR AIRWAY, SOME CONFUSION AROSE AS WE SEARCHED FOR, AND FINALLY FOUND, V-343 ON THE CHART. ZLC THEN SAID, 'I HAVE YOU 1 MI E OF V-343, CLRED FOR ANY APCH AT BZN.' AT THIS TIME WE WERE ABOUT 10500 FT ABOVE BZN FIELD ELEVATION (15000 FT MSL) AND ABOUT 30 NM OUT, SO I STARTED A NORMAL 3 TO 1 DSCNT INTO BZN. IN A COUPLE OF MINS ZLC CAME BACK AND SAID, 'I HAVE YOU BELOW MEA FOR V-343, RECOMMEND YOU CLB.' WE IMMEDIATELY ADDED PWR AND CLBED TO 13500 FT. WE HAD DSNDED 1500 FT BELOW MOCA IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ARE: 1) WE DID NOT HAVE ALL APPROPRIATE CHARTS IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE AND OPENED TO THE PROPER PANEL. IN OUR DEFENSE HERE WE WERE FILED AND CLRED ON THE HIGH ALT RTES. IT IS A 'CURVE BALL' TO THE PLT TO SUDDENLY CLR HIM ONTO A VICTOR AIRWAY. 2) MEA/MOCA'S ON VICTOR AIRWAYS ARE VERY HIGH RELATIVE TO THE FIELD ELEVATION OF BZN. THIS RESULTS IN DSCNTS WELL IN EXCESS OF OUR NORMAL 3 NM/1000 FT VERT DROP DSCNT PROFILE. 3) THERE ARE NO FEEDER FACILITIES FOR APCHS FOR ACFT ARRIVING FROM THE S OR N. FEEDER FACILITIES WOULD HELP IN DRAWING THE PLT'S ATTN TO MINIMUM ALTS PRIOR TO THE APCH ITSELF. 4) BZN HAS NO CTL TWR, APCH OR DEP CTL, NO SIDS OR STARS. IT IS A 'NAKED' ARPT SURROUNDED BY HIGH TERRAIN. 5) THIS OCCURRED AT XX45 AM (BODY TIME TO PLTS) AT THE END OF A 9 HR DUTY PERIOD.

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.