A bonanza pilot received a low altitude alert on approach to pou.

Attributes
ACN	451230
Time
Date	199910
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pou.airport
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl single value : 1600
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Bonanza 33
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
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 1750 flight time type : 1207
ASRS Report	451230
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : low altitude warning other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

On IFR flight from baf to pou, aircraft X was handed off to new york approach. It appeared approach was working with a trainee because instructions would come alternately from female, then male voice. Some confusion arose when issued 'expect ILS runway 9 at swf.' pilot informed new york approach that the destination filed was pou, then was given clearance for VOR DME approach for pou. Clearance was not accepted (flight plan was filed /U), then was given VOR-a approach very close to the fix (ign VOR). Pilot misinterped CDI and overflew 217 degree radial inbound while attempting to establish. Upon realizing error, pilot was vectored for second attempt and completed landing. During approach, approach control appeared overly annoyed and issued a low altitude alert. Aircraft altimeter showed altitude to be the required 1600 ft inbound +/-100 ft (ceiling was 1800 ft, aircraft was clear of clouds with airport in sight). Suggest that ATC training might be better monitored when IMC conditions exist.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BONANZA PLT RECEIVED A LOW ALT ALERT ON APCH TO POU.

Narrative: ON IFR FLT FROM BAF TO POU, ACFT X WAS HANDED OFF TO NEW YORK APCH. IT APPEARED APCH WAS WORKING WITH A TRAINEE BECAUSE INSTRUCTIONS WOULD COME ALTERNATELY FROM FEMALE, THEN MALE VOICE. SOME CONFUSION AROSE WHEN ISSUED 'EXPECT ILS RWY 9 AT SWF.' PLT INFORMED NEW YORK APCH THAT THE DEST FILED WAS POU, THEN WAS GIVEN CLRNC FOR VOR DME APCH FOR POU. CLRNC WAS NOT ACCEPTED (FLT PLAN WAS FILED /U), THEN WAS GIVEN VOR-A APCH VERY CLOSE TO THE FIX (IGN VOR). PLT MISINTERPED CDI AND OVERFLEW 217 DEG RADIAL INBOUND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ESTABLISH. UPON REALIZING ERROR, PLT WAS VECTORED FOR SECOND ATTEMPT AND COMPLETED LNDG. DURING APCH, APCH CTL APPEARED OVERLY ANNOYED AND ISSUED A LOW ALT ALERT. ACFT ALTIMETER SHOWED ALT TO BE THE REQUIRED 1600 FT INBOUND +/-100 FT (CEILING WAS 1800 FT, ACFT WAS CLR OF CLOUDS WITH ARPT IN SIGHT). SUGGEST THAT ATC TRAINING MIGHT BE BETTER MONITORED WHEN IMC CONDITIONS EXIST.

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.