EMB145 crew descended below cleared altitude until the GPWS activated.

Attributes
ACN	412360
Time
Date	199808
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cmh
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : cmh
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Embraer Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 140
ASRS Report	412360
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot conflict : ground critical non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During vector for ILS approach, VOR and ILS equipment were being used as primary flight instruments and FMS was being used as backup displayed on the multi-function display. The captain (myself) was flying the aircraft. During initial contact I thought the controller said to expect the ILS to runway 28L. The first officer heard to expect runway 28R correctly. We each programmed our FMS equipment accordingly. When I discovered we were going to runway 28R, I asked the first officer to set my FMS to the proper approach and I set my VHF radios to the proper frequency. We were descending to 3000 ft at the time. We were given further descent to 2500 ft, but the altitude preselect was not set properly and we descended to 2000 ft, at which time our aircraft GPWS told us we were too low, gear not down, 1000 ft AGL. I asked ATC what altitude I should be at. He climbed us to 3000 ft and we finished the approach without incident. This problem I think was due to spending time programming the FMS, which was not needed to start with, and not following proper procedures for setting the altitude preselect and confirming between the 2 pilots.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EMB145 CREW DSNDED BELOW CLRED ALT UNTIL THE GPWS ACTIVATED.

Narrative: DURING VECTOR FOR ILS APCH, VOR AND ILS EQUIP WERE BEING USED AS PRIMARY FLT INSTS AND FMS WAS BEING USED AS BACKUP DISPLAYED ON THE MULTI-FUNCTION DISPLAY. THE CAPT (MYSELF) WAS FLYING THE ACFT. DURING INITIAL CONTACT I THOUGHT THE CTLR SAID TO EXPECT THE ILS TO RWY 28L. THE FO HEARD TO EXPECT RWY 28R CORRECTLY. WE EACH PROGRAMMED OUR FMS EQUIP ACCORDINGLY. WHEN I DISCOVERED WE WERE GOING TO RWY 28R, I ASKED THE FO TO SET MY FMS TO THE PROPER APCH AND I SET MY VHF RADIOS TO THE PROPER FREQ. WE WERE DSNDING TO 3000 FT AT THE TIME. WE WERE GIVEN FURTHER DSCNT TO 2500 FT, BUT THE ALT PRESELECT WAS NOT SET PROPERLY AND WE DSNDED TO 2000 FT, AT WHICH TIME OUR ACFT GPWS TOLD US WE WERE TOO LOW, GEAR NOT DOWN, 1000 FT AGL. I ASKED ATC WHAT ALT I SHOULD BE AT. HE CLBED US TO 3000 FT AND WE FINISHED THE APCH WITHOUT INCIDENT. THIS PROB I THINK WAS DUE TO SPENDING TIME PROGRAMMING THE FMS, WHICH WAS NOT NEEDED TO START WITH, AND NOT FOLLOWING PROPER PROCS FOR SETTING THE ALT PRESELECT AND CONFIRMING BTWN THE 2 PLTS.

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.