Light aircraft on IFR training flight in IMC tracks wrong navigation receiver, thus descending early...

Attributes
ACN	113843
Time
Date	198906
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : syr
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 860 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : syr
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government other
Function	instruction : instructor oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 1400 flight time type : 350
ASRS Report	113843
Person 2
Affiliation	government other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were cleared for the VOR runway 14 approach. I gave the student the required heading to keep the course deviation indicator centered and advised him we were over the VOR. He established an 800 FPM rate of descent, at which time I noticed the DME blink off. I looked up and realized we were tracking the #2 VOR instead of the #1 VOR (which had been set for the approach). We continued on the approach and descended .5 mi prior to the final approach fix. We came close to a tower that was 574' 1.3 NM from the final approach fix, but on the descent side of the final approach fix. Tower didn't say anything to us, and I doubt approach control or tower saw us descend early, too much teaching ad not enough concentrating.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LIGHT ACFT ON IFR TRAINING FLT IN IMC TRACKS WRONG NAVIGATION RECEIVER, THUS DESCENDING EARLY ON APCH.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED FOR THE VOR RWY 14 APCH. I GAVE THE STUDENT THE REQUIRED HDG TO KEEP THE COURSE DEVIATION INDICATOR CENTERED AND ADVISED HIM WE WERE OVER THE VOR. HE ESTABLISHED AN 800 FPM RATE OF DSCNT, AT WHICH TIME I NOTICED THE DME BLINK OFF. I LOOKED UP AND REALIZED WE WERE TRACKING THE #2 VOR INSTEAD OF THE #1 VOR (WHICH HAD BEEN SET FOR THE APCH). WE CONTINUED ON THE APCH AND DESCENDED .5 MI PRIOR TO THE FINAL APCH FIX. WE CAME CLOSE TO A TWR THAT WAS 574' 1.3 NM FROM THE FINAL APCH FIX, BUT ON THE DSCNT SIDE OF THE FINAL APCH FIX. TWR DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING TO US, AND I DOUBT APCH CTL OR TWR SAW US DSND EARLY, TOO MUCH TEACHING AD NOT ENOUGH CONCENTRATING.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.

Light aircraft on IFR training flight in IMC tracks wrong navigation receiver, thus descending early on approach.