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An instrument rated M20P pilot descended to 1000 ft 11 DME from toa on the 29R ILS glide slope with an off flag showing and the glide slope needle centered.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 748706 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200707 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : toa.airport |
| State Reference | CA |
| Altitude | msl single value : 1000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : sct.tracon |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | M-20 Series Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Navigation In Use | ils localizer & glide slope : 29r |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Route In Use | approach : instrument precision |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : private |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 16 flight time total : 3069 flight time type : 2440 |
| ASRS Report | 748706 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued alert flight crew : took evasive action flight crew : returned to assigned altitude |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
Narrative:
I was given radar vectors to intercept the toa localizer and cleared for the runway 29R ILS approach circle-to-land runway 11L and maintain 2000 ft until established. I intercepted the localizer at less than 13 DME and since I saw the GS centered; I started my descent. I broke out immediately from overcast and noticed that I had not reached the final fix. After re-examining the GS; I noticed the off-flag and immediately added full power to return to 2000 ft. At the same time; the socal controller asked for my altitude and I told him 1000 ft and climbing. He advised for an immediate climb to 2000 ft. By this time the airport was in sight and the GS came alive. I was switched to torrance tower for a circle-to-land. Considerations: the GS signal must have been blocked by terrain or obstructions and initially I did not notice the flag. My mistake was not to wait for the final fix which was available on my DME and xradial. Being in VMC so quickly may have kept my eyes outside instead of on the dials.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN INSTRUMENT RATED M20P PILOT DESCENDED TO 1000 FT 11 DME FROM TOA ON THE 29R ILS GLIDE SLOPE WITH AN OFF FLAG SHOWING AND THE GLIDE SLOPE NEEDLE CENTERED.
Narrative: I WAS GIVEN RADAR VECTORS TO INTERCEPT THE TOA LOC AND CLRED FOR THE RWY 29R ILS APCH CIRCLE-TO-LAND RWY 11L AND MAINTAIN 2000 FT UNTIL ESTABLISHED. I INTERCEPTED THE LOC AT LESS THAN 13 DME AND SINCE I SAW THE GS CTRED; I STARTED MY DSCNT. I BROKE OUT IMMEDIATELY FROM OVCST AND NOTICED THAT I HAD NOT REACHED THE FINAL FIX. AFTER RE-EXAMINING THE GS; I NOTICED THE OFF-FLAG AND IMMEDIATELY ADDED FULL PWR TO RETURN TO 2000 FT. AT THE SAME TIME; THE SOCAL CTLR ASKED FOR MY ALT AND I TOLD HIM 1000 FT AND CLBING. HE ADVISED FOR AN IMMEDIATE CLB TO 2000 FT. BY THIS TIME THE ARPT WAS IN SIGHT AND THE GS CAME ALIVE. I WAS SWITCHED TO TORRANCE TWR FOR A CIRCLE-TO-LAND. CONSIDERATIONS: THE GS SIGNAL MUST HAVE BEEN BLOCKED BY TERRAIN OR OBSTRUCTIONS AND INITIALLY I DID NOT NOTICE THE FLAG. MY MISTAKE WAS NOT TO WAIT FOR THE FINAL FIX WHICH WAS AVAILABLE ON MY DME AND XRADIAL. BEING IN VMC SO QUICKLY MAY HAVE KEPT MY EYES OUTSIDE INSTEAD OF ON THE DIALS.
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.