B737-700 crew descended too low on the circling approach to runway 29 at ewr.

Attributes
ACN	543602
Time
Date	200204
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ewr.airport
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl single value : 750
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Rain
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : ewr.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-700
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : circling
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : ewr.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : circling
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 8000
ASRS Report	543602
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude altitude deviation : overshoot inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter other non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist controller : issued new clearance controller : issued alert none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Started circle east of memue, following a B757 to runway 29. We were nearly 200 KTS and slowed down quickly to 150 KTS. I was distraction somewhat by the light rain and search for the traffic ahead, and descended to 750 ft which was lower than we should have been. First officer mentioned that we were too low, yet with the distrs and workload, I did not correct. We sighted the traffic and set up spacing followed by normal landing. I was tired and trying to do my best under the circumstances, but should have done better. At memue, so concerned about slowing down that I missed looking at the runway for angular orientation, I didn't turn right far enough and tower directed us to 090 degree heading. It took quite some time to get oriented. We should not have been at as low an altitude as we were.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-700 CREW DSNDED TOO LOW ON THE CIRCLING APCH TO RWY 29 AT EWR.

Narrative: STARTED CIRCLE E OF MEMUE, FOLLOWING A B757 TO RWY 29. WE WERE NEARLY 200 KTS AND SLOWED DOWN QUICKLY TO 150 KTS. I WAS DISTR SOMEWHAT BY THE LIGHT RAIN AND SEARCH FOR THE TFC AHEAD, AND DSNDED TO 750 FT WHICH WAS LOWER THAN WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN. FO MENTIONED THAT WE WERE TOO LOW, YET WITH THE DISTRS AND WORKLOAD, I DID NOT CORRECT. WE SIGHTED THE TFC AND SET UP SPACING FOLLOWED BY NORMAL LNDG. I WAS TIRED AND TRYING TO DO MY BEST UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT SHOULD HAVE DONE BETTER. AT MEMUE, SO CONCERNED ABOUT SLOWING DOWN THAT I MISSED LOOKING AT THE RWY FOR ANGULAR ORIENTATION, I DIDN'T TURN R FAR ENOUGH AND TWR DIRECTED US TO 090 DEG HDG. IT TOOK QUITE SOME TIME TO GET ORIENTED. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AT AS LOW AN ALT AS WE WERE.

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.