Narrative:

Orlando approach control was vectoring us for an ILS approach, which we were set up for on our radios. We were given a turn to intercept and fly the VOR DME 9L approach, and intercept at or above 3000' MSL. In the hustle to find the correct approach plate, we continued our descent to 3000' at which time we descended beneath the base of the clouds. I advised ATC that we had the airport in sight and he cleared us to land. The VASI showed us on the proper glide path and was used to a landing. On final the tower told us that we had crossed over the orlando executive airport (location of orl VOR) too low. Executive airport is 5.7 mi north of mco and on the final to 18L&right. The FAF crossing altitude is 2300' MSL. If following the VASI on proper glide path would have you cross this point at a lower altitude. Contributing factors: I feel the quick change of apches just prior to the final turn on, and the controller clearing us to land after reporting the airport in sight, we assumed flying the VASI was proper. Corrective actions: the controller as a reminder might as part of his landing clearance to cross the VOR or executive airport at a certain altitude before beginning final descent to landing on the VASI.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR FLT CREW IS ACCUSED OF CROSSING OVER ORL AT TOO LOW AN ALT WHILE EXECUTING THE VOR DME 18L APCH INTO MCO.

Narrative: ORLANDO APCH CTL WAS VECTORING US FOR AN ILS APCH, WHICH WE WERE SET UP FOR ON OUR RADIOS. WE WERE GIVEN A TURN TO INTERCEPT AND FLY THE VOR DME 9L APCH, AND INTERCEPT AT OR ABOVE 3000' MSL. IN THE HUSTLE TO FIND THE CORRECT APCH PLATE, WE CONTINUED OUR DSCNT TO 3000' AT WHICH TIME WE DESCENDED BENEATH THE BASE OF THE CLOUDS. I ADVISED ATC THAT WE HAD THE ARPT IN SIGHT AND HE CLRED US TO LAND. THE VASI SHOWED US ON THE PROPER GLIDE PATH AND WAS USED TO A LNDG. ON FINAL THE TWR TOLD US THAT WE HAD CROSSED OVER THE ORLANDO EXECUTIVE ARPT (LOCATION OF ORL VOR) TOO LOW. EXECUTIVE ARPT IS 5.7 MI N OF MCO AND ON THE FINAL TO 18L&R. THE FAF XING ALT IS 2300' MSL. IF FOLLOWING THE VASI ON PROPER GLIDE PATH WOULD HAVE YOU CROSS THIS POINT AT A LOWER ALT. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: I FEEL THE QUICK CHANGE OF APCHES JUST PRIOR TO THE FINAL TURN ON, AND THE CTLR CLEARING US TO LAND AFTER REPORTING THE ARPT IN SIGHT, WE ASSUMED FLYING THE VASI WAS PROPER. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS: THE CTLR AS A REMINDER MIGHT AS PART OF HIS LNDG CLRNC TO CROSS THE VOR OR EXECUTIVE ARPT AT A CERTAIN ALT BEFORE BEGINNING FINAL DSCNT TO LNDG ON THE VASI.

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.