ATR42-320 crew did not comply with the mandatory crossing restrs on runway 27 ILS at iah.

Attributes
ACN	502580
Time
Date	200102
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : iah.airport
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl single value : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : i90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	ATR 42
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : 27
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : instrument precision
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : i90.tracon
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : 26
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 125 flight time total : 3370 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	502580
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude altitude deviation : undershoot conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : company policies non adherence : far non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to assigned altitude flight crew : returned to original clearance flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action none taken : detected after the fact
Miss Distance	horizontal : 0 vertical : 1000
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airspace Structure FAA Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : i90.tracon

Narrative:

We were on approach to iah, and cleared for ILS runway 27 approach at 3000 ft just outside of dento intersection (14.5 DME). ILS runway 27 has mandatory stepdown fixes. After dento, the mandatory stepdown altitude is 2000 ft. As a crew, we forgot to go down to 2000 ft after passing dento. The tower controller gave us instruction to go down to 2000 ft and rejoin the GS at this new altitude. The controller also advised there was an aircraft directly above us 1000 ft higher (4000 ft MSL) going to the parallel runway (runway 26). As a crew, we failed to mention the mandatory stepdown in our approach briefing. That is a lesson in itself. Also, we were cleared for the ILS, even though, the last 13 mi of the approach was in visual conditions which made us assume we may be on a visual approach. That was a mistake also. From now on, we must listen to what kind of approach we are cleared for, and make sure we are fully briefed for that exact approach.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATR42-320 CREW DID NOT COMPLY WITH THE MANDATORY XING RESTRS ON RWY 27 ILS AT IAH.

Narrative: WE WERE ON APCH TO IAH, AND CLRED FOR ILS RWY 27 APCH AT 3000 FT JUST OUTSIDE OF DENTO INTXN (14.5 DME). ILS RWY 27 HAS MANDATORY STEPDOWN FIXES. AFTER DENTO, THE MANDATORY STEPDOWN ALT IS 2000 FT. AS A CREW, WE FORGOT TO GO DOWN TO 2000 FT AFTER PASSING DENTO. THE TWR CTLR GAVE US INSTRUCTION TO GO DOWN TO 2000 FT AND REJOIN THE GS AT THIS NEW ALT. THE CTLR ALSO ADVISED THERE WAS AN ACFT DIRECTLY ABOVE US 1000 FT HIGHER (4000 FT MSL) GOING TO THE PARALLEL RWY (RWY 26). AS A CREW, WE FAILED TO MENTION THE MANDATORY STEPDOWN IN OUR APCH BRIEFING. THAT IS A LESSON IN ITSELF. ALSO, WE WERE CLRED FOR THE ILS, EVEN THOUGH, THE LAST 13 MI OF THE APCH WAS IN VISUAL CONDITIONS WHICH MADE US ASSUME WE MAY BE ON A VISUAL APCH. THAT WAS A MISTAKE ALSO. FROM NOW ON, WE MUST LISTEN TO WHAT KIND OF APCH WE ARE CLRED FOR, AND MAKE SURE WE ARE FULLY BRIEFED FOR THAT EXACT APCH.

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.