A PA32 pilot descended below MDA on approach to hxd.

Attributes
ACN	714639
Time
Date	200610
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hxd.airport
State Reference	SC
Altitude	msl single value : 400
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : hxd.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 27 flight time total : 1720 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	714639
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : executed missed approach
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Flying the localizer 21 approach to hxd. Broken layer of clouds at 400-500 ft MSL. Through a hole in the cloud deck; made visual contact with the approach end of the runway environment and began descent below MDA. Subsequently lost sight of the runway environment due to low clouds. Initiated missed approach and diverted to different airport with VFR conditions. Noticed during the missed approach that the altimeter had not been set to the destination field setting. Reported ceilings (via ATIS) were 400 ft (MDA was 480 ft) yet the conditions were extremely localized. Passed over the nearby (ie; less than 10 mi) beaufort marine air base was VFR (with clear skies). Given the fact that ceilings were reported ok (around 3 mi); winds were calm; and there wasn't any other adverse WX seemed reasonable to shoot the approach. Because I was mentally anticipating a missed approach; and there was other IFR traffic in the area for the same approach at hxd; I flew the approach faster than normal (especially when nearing the airport). Given a slower approach speed I would have had a steeper descent gradient; and perhaps been able to get below the cloud deck before losing sight of the runway. Also; distraction by unexpected radar vectors (for spacing due to other IFR traffic); I failed to change to the local altimeter setting; and the fact that nearby WX was VFR also contributed to a sense of complacency.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PA32 PLT DSNDED BELOW MDA ON APCH TO HXD.

Narrative: FLYING THE LOC 21 APCH TO HXD. BROKEN LAYER OF CLOUDS AT 400-500 FT MSL. THROUGH A HOLE IN THE CLOUD DECK; MADE VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE APCH END OF THE RWY ENVIRONMENT AND BEGAN DSCNT BELOW MDA. SUBSEQUENTLY LOST SIGHT OF THE RWY ENVIRONMENT DUE TO LOW CLOUDS. INITIATED MISSED APCH AND DIVERTED TO DIFFERENT ARPT WITH VFR CONDITIONS. NOTICED DURING THE MISSED APCH THAT THE ALTIMETER HAD NOT BEEN SET TO THE DEST FIELD SETTING. RPTED CEILINGS (VIA ATIS) WERE 400 FT (MDA WAS 480 FT) YET THE CONDITIONS WERE EXTREMELY LOCALIZED. PASSED OVER THE NEARBY (IE; LESS THAN 10 MI) BEAUFORT MARINE AIR BASE WAS VFR (WITH CLR SKIES). GIVEN THE FACT THAT CEILINGS WERE RPTED OK (AROUND 3 MI); WINDS WERE CALM; AND THERE WASN'T ANY OTHER ADVERSE WX SEEMED REASONABLE TO SHOOT THE APCH. BECAUSE I WAS MENTALLY ANTICIPATING A MISSED APCH; AND THERE WAS OTHER IFR TFC IN THE AREA FOR THE SAME APCH AT HXD; I FLEW THE APCH FASTER THAN NORMAL (ESPECIALLY WHEN NEARING THE ARPT). GIVEN A SLOWER APCH SPD I WOULD HAVE HAD A STEEPER DSCNT GRADIENT; AND PERHAPS BEEN ABLE TO GET BELOW THE CLOUD DECK BEFORE LOSING SIGHT OF THE RWY. ALSO; DISTR BY UNEXPECTED RADAR VECTORS (FOR SPACING DUE TO OTHER IFR TFC); I FAILED TO CHANGE TO THE LCL ALTIMETER SETTING; AND THE FACT THAT NEARBY WX WAS VFR ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO A SENSE OF COMPLACENCY.

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.