Narrative:

While flying a scheduled route from duj to fkl, we were cleared to descend to 3500 ft. While looking for fkl airport for a visual approach, WX was about 5-7 mi visibility and clear skies. I was looking for the airport as my first officer was checking WX and calling company. I descended to 3000 ft and realized that I descended too low. As I began my correction ATC advised us we were at 2900 ft and MVA was 3500 ft and that 3500 ft was our assigned altitude. We corrected to 3500 ft and continued the flight to landing at fkl. I think the short flight at 20 mins en route is a contributing factor since the PNF's workload is high. They sometimes loss situational awareness. I have since told my first officer's to always back me up and if we don't get the company advised that it isn't that big of a deal compared to the safety of the flight. I also have decided that if visibility is below 10 NM we will get vectors for an instrument approach. That way we will not be distracted from the instruments looking for an airport in low or marginal visibility.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF A BEECH 1900 OVERSHOT ASSIGNED ALT ON DSCNT DUE TO DISTR OF VISUALLY LOOKING FOR THE ARPT FOR A VISUAL APCH.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING A SCHEDULED RTE FROM DUJ TO FKL, WE WERE CLRED TO DSND TO 3500 FT. WHILE LOOKING FOR FKL ARPT FOR A VISUAL APCH, WX WAS ABOUT 5-7 MI VISIBILITY AND CLR SKIES. I WAS LOOKING FOR THE ARPT AS MY FO WAS CHKING WX AND CALLING COMPANY. I DSNDED TO 3000 FT AND REALIZED THAT I DSNDED TOO LOW. AS I BEGAN MY CORRECTION ATC ADVISED US WE WERE AT 2900 FT AND MVA WAS 3500 FT AND THAT 3500 FT WAS OUR ASSIGNED ALT. WE CORRECTED TO 3500 FT AND CONTINUED THE FLT TO LNDG AT FKL. I THINK THE SHORT FLT AT 20 MINS ENRTE IS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR SINCE THE PNF'S WORKLOAD IS HIGH. THEY SOMETIMES LOSS SITUATIONAL AWARENESS. I HAVE SINCE TOLD MY FO'S TO ALWAYS BACK ME UP AND IF WE DON'T GET THE COMPANY ADVISED THAT IT ISN'T THAT BIG OF A DEAL COMPARED TO THE SAFETY OF THE FLT. I ALSO HAVE DECIDED THAT IF VISIBILITY IS BELOW 10 NM WE WILL GET VECTORS FOR AN INST APCH. THAT WAY WE WILL NOT BE DISTRACTED FROM THE INSTS LOOKING FOR AN ARPT IN LOW OR MARGINAL VISIBILITY.

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.