Narrative:

We were cleared for the GPS 19 into frg. It had been a long time since the copilot or I had performed this approach. I therefore gave what I thought was a thorough approach brief about 15 minutes out. We started getting vectors for the approach. It wasn't until we were on a left downwind that I remembered ny TRACON has given me vectors for the full approach in the past. Our FMS was set up for the GPS 19; but did not have the dpk transition plugged in. Since I was flying; I asked the copilot to plug in the dpk transition. He said; 'don't worry about it; we don't need it'. I think he assumed we would be getting vectors to the final approach course like we usually do on instrument approaches in a radar environment. Seconds after that; we were told to go 'direct podal; maintain 2000' till established; cleared for the GPS 19 approach. The copilot read back the clearance (accepting it). It only takes a few seconds to plug in the full approach using the correct transition fix; but the procedure had slipped both of our minds since we hadn't done it in a while. Instead; we manually plugged in podal and realized we were just coming up on it. The copilot was reading the approach plate and told me to turn left to a heading of 280 degrees for our base leg and descend to 1500'. I asked him if he was sure about that; he said yes. It wasn't until I reached 1500' that he realized he had read the chart incorrectly and we should have still been at 2000'. Since we were coming up on the vgp I decided to maintain 1500'. I captured the vgp and landed. My problem started with me giving an inadequate approach brief. I should have briefed the full approach and stated that we should be ready and able to plug in the appropriate transition fix based on which side of the airport the TRACON was bringing us in on. Once cleared for the approach; instead of going along with my copilot; I should have informed TRACON we were not set up for the full approach and would like vectors for final. Since I didn't want TRACON to think I was unprepared for the approach; I allowed my ego to push me into a bad situation. Never again!!!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Challenger crew was caught off guard when cleared to a transition fix on the GPS 19 FRG. The transition could not be loaded in a timely manor and the First Officer called for a descent to 1500 FT well before the desired point. Captain maintained this altitude to the VGP then descends for a normal landing.

Narrative: We were cleared for the GPS 19 into FRG. It had been a long time since the Copilot or I had performed this approach. I therefore gave what I thought was a thorough approach brief about 15 minutes out. We started getting vectors for the approach. It wasn't until we were on a left downwind that I remembered NY TRACON has given me vectors for the full approach in the past. Our FMS was set up for the GPS 19; but did not have the DPK transition plugged in. Since I was flying; I asked the Copilot to plug in the DPK transition. He said; 'Don't worry about it; we don't need it'. I think he assumed we would be getting vectors to the final approach course like we usually do on instrument approaches in a radar environment. Seconds after that; we were told to go 'direct PODAL; maintain 2000' till established; cleared for the GPS 19 approach. The copilot read back the clearance (accepting it). It only takes a few seconds to plug in the full approach using the correct transition fix; but the procedure had slipped both of our minds since we hadn't done it in a while. Instead; we manually plugged in PODAL and realized we were just coming up on it. The Copilot was reading the approach plate and told me to turn left to a heading of 280 degrees for our base leg and descend to 1500'. I asked him if he was sure about that; he said yes. It wasn't until I reached 1500' that he realized he had read the chart incorrectly and we should have still been at 2000'. Since we were coming up on the VGP I decided to maintain 1500'. I captured the VGP and landed. My problem started with me giving an inadequate approach brief. I should have briefed the full approach and stated that we should be ready and able to plug in the appropriate transition fix based on which side of the airport the TRACON was bringing us in on. Once cleared for the approach; instead of going along with my Copilot; I should have informed TRACON we were not set up for the full approach and would like vectors for final. Since I didn't want TRACON to think I was unprepared for the approach; I allowed my ego to push me into a bad situation. Never again!!!

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.