Narrative:

During the approach VOR-a to 7d2, I was instructed to maintain 3000 ft til established and cleared for the approach. After passing sawsg intersection, I descended to 2200 ft MSL and leveled off. ATC advised me to switch to CTAF and cancel IFR in the air or by phone. Once past perls intersection and at 13.7 DME I descended to 1400 ft MSL. About 1 min later, I switched back to ATC to cancel IFR. I was told that I had started my descent before FAF. After landing I called ATC to talk to the controller and discussed how this could be. I was told this didn't appear to be a problem for ATC and they would check their equipment and radar distances and I would doublechk my equipment.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC ADVISED PVT PLT OF A C182 THAT HE APPEARED TO DSND EARLY DURING A VOR DME APCH TO A NON TWR ARPT. IN A SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSION WITH ATC, IN WHICH HE SAID THAT HE BELIEVED THAT HE WAITED TO THE PROPER DME DISTANCE, ATC SAID THAT THEY WOULD CHK THEIR EQUIP FOR ACCURACY, AND THE PLT SAID HE WOULD ALSO.

Narrative: DURING THE APCH VOR-A TO 7D2, I WAS INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN 3000 FT TIL ESTABLISHED AND CLRED FOR THE APCH. AFTER PASSING SAWSG INTXN, I DSNDED TO 2200 FT MSL AND LEVELED OFF. ATC ADVISED ME TO SWITCH TO CTAF AND CANCEL IFR IN THE AIR OR BY PHONE. ONCE PAST PERLS INTXN AND AT 13.7 DME I DSNDED TO 1400 FT MSL. ABOUT 1 MIN LATER, I SWITCHED BACK TO ATC TO CANCEL IFR. I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD STARTED MY DSCNT BEFORE FAF. AFTER LNDG I CALLED ATC TO TALK TO THE CTLR AND DISCUSSED HOW THIS COULD BE. I WAS TOLD THIS DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE A PROB FOR ATC AND THEY WOULD CHK THEIR EQUIP AND RADAR DISTANCES AND I WOULD DOUBLECHK MY EQUIP.

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.