Narrative:

We were operating flight XXXX. At 8000 ft en route direct to home, we requested and were cleared for the GPS approach to runway 21 at the homer airport, told to descend and maintain 5000 ft until established on a published segment of the approach. We read back the clearance and started descent to 5000 ft. As we descended, we started direct to the IAF (ogloq). Through about 6600 ft, the center controller asked if we were on a published portion of the approach. I said 'negative, we are proceeding direct oscar, golf, lima, oscar, quebec.' I request direct oscar, golf, lima, oscar, quebec. The controller said the minimum sector altitude was 8600 ft. I asked again for clearance to oscar, golf, lima, oscar, quebec, and will climb and maintain 8600 ft. We were cleared as requested. We maintained 8600 ft until ogloq and continued the approach. Shortly after ogloq we broke out of the clouds, canceled IFR, and the rest of the flight was uneventful. This was the first time either crew member had completed this approach. I believe closer examination of the approach could have prevented this occurrence. The approach is in a similar area with the localizer back course to runway 21. We use this approach regularly and were looking for a different approach to use that did not take us any farther out of the way. At no time were we within 2000 ft vertically or horizontally from any obstruction.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DHC-6 CREW, ON APCH TO PAHO, AK, ONCE CLRED FOR THE APCH STARTED TO PROCEED DIRECT TO THE IAF, CONTRARY TO THE PUBLISHED PROC. ATC THWARTED THE ATTEMPT.

Narrative: WE WERE OPERATING FLT XXXX. AT 8000 FT ENRTE DIRECT TO HOME, WE REQUESTED AND WERE CLRED FOR THE GPS APCH TO RWY 21 AT THE HOMER ARPT, TOLD TO DSND AND MAINTAIN 5000 FT UNTIL ESTABLISHED ON A PUBLISHED SEGMENT OF THE APCH. WE READ BACK THE CLRNC AND STARTED DSCNT TO 5000 FT. AS WE DSNDED, WE STARTED DIRECT TO THE IAF (OGLOQ). THROUGH ABOUT 6600 FT, THE CTR CTLR ASKED IF WE WERE ON A PUBLISHED PORTION OF THE APCH. I SAID 'NEGATIVE, WE ARE PROCEEDING DIRECT OSCAR, GOLF, LIMA, OSCAR, QUEBEC.' I REQUEST DIRECT OSCAR, GOLF, LIMA, OSCAR, QUEBEC. THE CTLR SAID THE MINIMUM SECTOR ALT WAS 8600 FT. I ASKED AGAIN FOR CLRNC TO OSCAR, GOLF, LIMA, OSCAR, QUEBEC, AND WILL CLB AND MAINTAIN 8600 FT. WE WERE CLRED AS REQUESTED. WE MAINTAINED 8600 FT UNTIL OGLOQ AND CONTINUED THE APCH. SHORTLY AFTER OGLOQ WE BROKE OUT OF THE CLOUDS, CANCELED IFR, AND THE REST OF THE FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME EITHER CREW MEMBER HAD COMPLETED THIS APCH. I BELIEVE CLOSER EXAMINATION OF THE APCH COULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS OCCURRENCE. THE APCH IS IN A SIMILAR AREA WITH THE LOC BACK COURSE TO RWY 21. WE USE THIS APCH REGULARLY AND WERE LOOKING FOR A DIFFERENT APCH TO USE THAT DID NOT TAKE US ANY FARTHER OUT OF THE WAY. AT NO TIME WERE WE WITHIN 2000 FT VERTLY OR HORIZLY FROM ANY OBSTRUCTION.

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.