Narrative:

After vectors to join the ILS at ZZZ we were cleared to maintain 3000 ft until established; cleared ILS. Once established on the localizer at approximately 10 DME from ZZZ; we set 1500 ft in the altitude window of the MCP and began a descent. Very shortly thereafter; ATC advised us we were well below GS. Moments later he told us we were below MVA for that area. We added power and started a shallow climb. We both further inspected the approach plate and realized we had set the bold; gsia of 1500 ft; and not the 2300 ft minimum until intersection. We switched from WX to terrain on our radar display and looked for obstacles/towers. We got the field visually; configured and landed normally. No GPWS cautions or warnings were ever received. Factors that led us to this altitude deviation include: 1) marginal VFR WX. We wanted to get under the clouds so we could pick up the visual approach. 2) being too comfortable at the 'home field' by not checking the approach plate close enough. 3) 50 KTS of crosswind making tracking the localizer challenging. ATC made timely; important calls and they were appreciated.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR FLT CREW RPTS BEGINNING AN EARLY DSCNT ON AN ILS TO A VERY FAMILIAR 'HOME PLATE' AND ATC ISSUING A BELOW GS ALERT.

Narrative: AFTER VECTORS TO JOIN THE ILS AT ZZZ WE WERE CLRED TO MAINTAIN 3000 FT UNTIL ESTABLISHED; CLRED ILS. ONCE ESTABLISHED ON THE LOC AT APPROX 10 DME FROM ZZZ; WE SET 1500 FT IN THE ALT WINDOW OF THE MCP AND BEGAN A DSCNT. VERY SHORTLY THEREAFTER; ATC ADVISED US WE WERE WELL BELOW GS. MOMENTS LATER HE TOLD US WE WERE BELOW MVA FOR THAT AREA. WE ADDED PWR AND STARTED A SHALLOW CLB. WE BOTH FURTHER INSPECTED THE APCH PLATE AND REALIZED WE HAD SET THE BOLD; GSIA OF 1500 FT; AND NOT THE 2300 FT MINIMUM UNTIL INTXN. WE SWITCHED FROM WX TO TERRAIN ON OUR RADAR DISPLAY AND LOOKED FOR OBSTACLES/TOWERS. WE GOT THE FIELD VISUALLY; CONFIGURED AND LANDED NORMALLY. NO GPWS CAUTIONS OR WARNINGS WERE EVER RECEIVED. FACTORS THAT LED US TO THIS ALTDEV INCLUDE: 1) MARGINAL VFR WX. WE WANTED TO GET UNDER THE CLOUDS SO WE COULD PICK UP THE VISUAL APCH. 2) BEING TOO COMFORTABLE AT THE 'HOME FIELD' BY NOT CHKING THE APCH PLATE CLOSE ENOUGH. 3) 50 KTS OF XWIND MAKING TRACKING THE LOC CHALLENGING. ATC MADE TIMELY; IMPORTANT CALLS AND THEY WERE APPRECIATED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.