B767 captain descends below MSA over first officer's objection during visual approach to oak.

Attributes
ACN	430674
Time
Date	199903
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : oak.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3900
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : o90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B767 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : 29 other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 350 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	430674
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert flight crew : returned to intended course
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

The captain was flying. We were cleared for a visual approach to runway 29. The captain briefed the approach to use ILS runway 29 as a backup and when 21 mi south of airport, descended to 2500 ft MSL to 'intercept' the ILS. I was telling her that we were still well south of the airport, I was concerned that we were too low over people's homes at the altitude and when we continued past 3000 ft MSL approach control warned us that we had descended below the MSA (for that area of 3900 ft MSL, which the captain had briefed). She began an immediate climb to 4000 ft MSL, the approach said 'you are now safe to descend again for the visual approach.' the captain had earlier told me not to overreact if we were not flying into a mountain, and that's what the ASRS program is for.' I believe that company procedures exist to help the captain. PF/PNF duties, I believe, do not take away from a captain to command, rather, I believe they are valuable tools. In the future, I will recite FARS in a more matter of fact way -- if they are threatened, instead of 'recommending,' this doesn't look right, why are we here?

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B767 CAPT DSNDS BELOW MSA OVER FO'S OBJECTION DURING VISUAL APCH TO OAK.

Narrative: THE CAPT WAS FLYING. WE WERE CLRED FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 29. THE CAPT BRIEFED THE APCH TO USE ILS RWY 29 AS A BACKUP AND WHEN 21 MI S OF ARPT, DSNDED TO 2500 FT MSL TO 'INTERCEPT' THE ILS. I WAS TELLING HER THAT WE WERE STILL WELL S OF THE ARPT, I WAS CONCERNED THAT WE WERE TOO LOW OVER PEOPLE'S HOMES AT THE ALT AND WHEN WE CONTINUED PAST 3000 FT MSL APCH CTL WARNED US THAT WE HAD DSNDED BELOW THE MSA (FOR THAT AREA OF 3900 FT MSL, WHICH THE CAPT HAD BRIEFED). SHE BEGAN AN IMMEDIATE CLB TO 4000 FT MSL, THE APCH SAID 'YOU ARE NOW SAFE TO DSND AGAIN FOR THE VISUAL APCH.' THE CAPT HAD EARLIER TOLD ME NOT TO OVERREACT IF WE WERE NOT FLYING INTO A MOUNTAIN, AND THAT'S WHAT THE ASRS PROGRAM IS FOR.' I BELIEVE THAT COMPANY PROCS EXIST TO HELP THE CAPT. PF/PNF DUTIES, I BELIEVE, DO NOT TAKE AWAY FROM A CAPT TO COMMAND, RATHER, I BELIEVE THEY ARE VALUABLE TOOLS. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL RECITE FARS IN A MORE MATTER OF FACT WAY -- IF THEY ARE THREATENED, INSTEAD OF 'RECOMMENDING,' THIS DOESN'T LOOK RIGHT, WHY ARE WE HERE?

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.