BE58 receives low altitude alert on approach to fci.

Attributes
ACN	448081
Time
Date	199909
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : fci.airport
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl single value : 2100
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ric.tracon tower : hou.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Baron 58/58TC
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : instrument non precision
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	448081
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	atc equipment : msaw aircraft equipment : altitude alert other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Environmental Factor Chart Or Publication
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

Received a 'low altitude' alert from ric ATC while on VOR/DME approach to runway 15 at chesterfield county airport, va (fci). I was at 2100 ft MSL as published on the standard instrument approach procedure (nopt) from flat rock VORTAC. Richmond radar stated that their system would given a 'low altitude' alert if the aircraft was below 2600 ft MSL (ie, required for procedure turn entry). Procedure was completed, as published. Errors: 1) either the standard instrument approach procedure for the VOR/DME runway 15 approach at fci is published incorrectly, or 2) the ric ATC radar software for 'low altitude' alert was misprogrammed, or 3) I don't know how to read. Callback conversation with approach control facility at ric revealed the following information: controller states that a low altitude alert warning is not a common occurrence on this approach. He states that if an aircraft is slightly left (north) of course, the low altitude alert is possible. He references the antenna on the final approach course as the cause of such an alert.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BE58 RECEIVES LOW ALT ALERT ON APCH TO FCI.

Narrative: RECEIVED A 'LOW ALT' ALERT FROM RIC ATC WHILE ON VOR/DME APCH TO RWY 15 AT CHESTERFIELD COUNTY ARPT, VA (FCI). I WAS AT 2100 FT MSL AS PUBLISHED ON THE STANDARD INST APCH PROC (NOPT) FROM FLAT ROCK VORTAC. RICHMOND RADAR STATED THAT THEIR SYS WOULD GIVEN A 'LOW ALT' ALERT IF THE ACFT WAS BELOW 2600 FT MSL (IE, REQUIRED FOR PROC TURN ENTRY). PROC WAS COMPLETED, AS PUBLISHED. ERRORS: 1) EITHER THE STANDARD INST APCH PROC FOR THE VOR/DME RWY 15 APCH AT FCI IS PUBLISHED INCORRECTLY, OR 2) THE RIC ATC RADAR SOFTWARE FOR 'LOW ALT' ALERT WAS MISPROGRAMMED, OR 3) I DON'T KNOW HOW TO READ. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH APCH CTL FACILITY AT RIC REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: CTLR STATES THAT A LOW ALT ALERT WARNING IS NOT A COMMON OCCURRENCE ON THIS APCH. HE STATES THAT IF AN ACFT IS SLIGHTLY L (N) OF COURSE, THE LOW ALT ALERT IS POSSIBLE. HE REFS THE ANTENNA ON THE FINAL APCH COURSE AS THE CAUSE OF SUCH AN ALERT.

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.