On an NDB approach, crew descended to FAF altitude 1 pt 5 mi early.

Attributes
ACN	492160
Time
Date	200011
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pns.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl single value : 700
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Rain
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : p31.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other ndb
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : instrument non precision
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	492160
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 5000
ASRS Report	492264
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance non adherence : company policies other anomaly other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	atc equipment : msaw other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

During the NDB approach to runway 35 pns, we lost significant situational awareness. Thinking we were past piere, we descended to 700 ft. Actually we were 1.5 mi outside of piere when the tower called a low altitude alert. Flying errors made by the PF caused the PNF to divert attention from navigating the approach to controling the aircraft. The PF indicated he had passed piere. This caused the PNF to assume this was true.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ON AN NDB APCH, CREW DSNDED TO FAF ALT 1 PT 5 MI EARLY.

Narrative: DURING THE NDB APCH TO RWY 35 PNS, WE LOST SIGNIFICANT SITUATIONAL AWARENESS. THINKING WE WERE PAST PIERE, WE DSNDED TO 700 FT. ACTUALLY WE WERE 1.5 MI OUTSIDE OF PIERE WHEN THE TWR CALLED A LOW ALT ALERT. FLYING ERRORS MADE BY THE PF CAUSED THE PNF TO DIVERT ATTN FROM NAVING THE APCH TO CTLING THE ACFT. THE PF INDICATED HE HAD PASSED PIERE. THIS CAUSED THE PNF TO ASSUME THIS WAS TRUE.

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.