Narrative:

Descent below notamed MDA on localizer 27 approach to san. During the approach briefing, we looked at NOTAMS and there was some confusion as to whether the 860 ft restr applied to just the GPS approach runway 27 or also to the 27 localizer approach. It appeared, and we concluded, it applied to the GPS 27 approach. Upon our approach to san localizer 27, we were advised (correctly) by tower of an altitude alert. We had descended to the published san localizer 27 minimums of 700 ft MSL, below the notamed minimums of 860 ft MSL. Reported WX was 2 1/2 mi visibility and an overcast layer at 900 ft AGL. Airport was acquired visually and a normal descent and landing occurred. After landing, we rechked the NOTAMS and discovered our error concerning the correct MDA. I will be careful when reading the NOTAMS in the future, and perhaps the NOTAMS could be written in a clrer language. I don't feel that multiple periods, commas and broken lines of text throughout the NOTAMS are conducive to clear communication.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CONFUSED AS TO APPLICABILITY OF NOTAMED REVISION OF MDA ON LOC IAP TO SAN RWY 27, FLT CREW OF B737-300 DSNDS BELOW MDA AND RECEIVES MSAW ALERT FROM LCL CTLR.

Narrative: DSCNT BELOW NOTAMED MDA ON LOC 27 APCH TO SAN. DURING THE APCH BRIEFING, WE LOOKED AT NOTAMS AND THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION AS TO WHETHER THE 860 FT RESTR APPLIED TO JUST THE GPS APCH RWY 27 OR ALSO TO THE 27 LOC APCH. IT APPEARED, AND WE CONCLUDED, IT APPLIED TO THE GPS 27 APCH. UPON OUR APCH TO SAN LOC 27, WE WERE ADVISED (CORRECTLY) BY TWR OF AN ALT ALERT. WE HAD DSNDED TO THE PUBLISHED SAN LOC 27 MINIMUMS OF 700 FT MSL, BELOW THE NOTAMED MINIMUMS OF 860 FT MSL. RPTED WX WAS 2 1/2 MI VISIBILITY AND AN OVCST LAYER AT 900 FT AGL. ARPT WAS ACQUIRED VISUALLY AND A NORMAL DSCNT AND LNDG OCCURRED. AFTER LNDG, WE RECHKED THE NOTAMS AND DISCOVERED OUR ERROR CONCERNING THE CORRECT MDA. I WILL BE CAREFUL WHEN READING THE NOTAMS IN THE FUTURE, AND PERHAPS THE NOTAMS COULD BE WRITTEN IN A CLRER LANGUAGE. I DON'T FEEL THAT MULTIPLE PERIODS, COMMAS AND BROKEN LINES OF TEXT THROUGHOUT THE NOTAMS ARE CONDUCIVE TO CLR COM.

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.