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Instrument rated private pilot was advised of a low altitude alert by the tower controller during an NDB approach due to the reporter starting approach descent too early outside of the final approach fix.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 440717 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199906 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : phf.airport |
| State Reference | VA |
| Altitude | msl single value : 700 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : orf.tracon |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Navigation In Use | other ndb |
| Flight Phase | descent : vacating altitude |
| Route In Use | approach : instrument non precision |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : private pilot : instrument |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 2400 flight time type : 1000 |
| ASRS Report | 440717 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : local |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation |
| Independent Detector | atc equipment : msaw other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued alert flight crew : executed missed approach |
| Consequence | faa : reviewed incident with flight crew |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
Was radar vectored for NDB approach to runway 2 at phf in IMC. Did successful intercept of 032 degrees inbound about 10 mi out. Cleared for approach, maintain 2000 ft till established on the inbound 032 degree heading, switch to tower at phf. Did so, and proceeded down toward published MDA of 640 ft. Tower called a 'low altitude alert' at approximately 700 ft. Executed miss and went around to ILS runway 7 and landed. Broke out at 700 ft on ILS. Evidently, they called the alert because I was outside of anhow, the FAF for the NDB approach at runway 2. No further action by FAA. I thought I was inside the FAF of anhow and its 1100 ft crossing altitude, and proceeded down once I was tracking the 032 degree radial to the NDB inbound.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: INST RATED PVT PLT WAS ADVISED OF A LOW ALT ALERT BY THE TWR CTLR DURING AN NDB APCH DUE TO THE RPTR STARTING APCH DSCNT TOO EARLY OUTSIDE OF THE FINAL APCH FIX.
Narrative: WAS RADAR VECTORED FOR NDB APCH TO RWY 2 AT PHF IN IMC. DID SUCCESSFUL INTERCEPT OF 032 DEGS INBOUND ABOUT 10 MI OUT. CLRED FOR APCH, MAINTAIN 2000 FT TILL ESTABLISHED ON THE INBOUND 032 DEG HDG, SWITCH TO TWR AT PHF. DID SO, AND PROCEEDED DOWN TOWARD PUBLISHED MDA OF 640 FT. TWR CALLED A 'LOW ALT ALERT' AT APPROX 700 FT. EXECUTED MISS AND WENT AROUND TO ILS RWY 7 AND LANDED. BROKE OUT AT 700 FT ON ILS. EVIDENTLY, THEY CALLED THE ALERT BECAUSE I WAS OUTSIDE OF ANHOW, THE FAF FOR THE NDB APCH AT RWY 2. NO FURTHER ACTION BY FAA. I THOUGHT I WAS INSIDE THE FAF OF ANHOW AND ITS 1100 FT XING ALT, AND PROCEEDED DOWN ONCE I WAS TRACKING THE 032 DEG RADIAL TO THE NDB INBOUND.
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.