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The flight crew of a g-iv reported descending below the assigned altitude after flying through the localizer in VMC conditions.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1350186 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201604 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Gulfstream IV / G350 / G450 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Initial Approach |
| Route In Use | Vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | First Officer Pilot Not Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 50 Flight Crew Total 8650 Flight Crew Type 1100 |
| Person 2 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying Captain |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Glider Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 46 Flight Crew Total 22835 Flight Crew Type 3228 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy |
Narrative:
During vectors for an ILS approach our aircraft was sequenced to follow a regional jet. After realizing that our aircraft was in a better position to be first on the approach the controller changed the order; had us keep our speed up and vectored us onto a base leg for the ILS. The subsequent intercepting vector however carried us through the localizer (most likely due to our higher than normal speed) and as we continued our turn to re-intercept the localizer I noticed the captain had descended to 2;400 MSL (100 feet below our vectoring altitude). I immediately brought this to his attention; he responded; and I then continued to complete the appropriate checklist. After the completion of that checklist I began looking for the airport. It was then that I realized the captain had descended to 1;800 MSL and had not yet re-intercepted the localizer. Since we were VMC; knew the environment extremely well; and also knew there were no obstacles in the area I decided (wrongly) not to press the issue with the captain. Fortunately in approximately 10 to 15 seconds I visually picked up the airport and asked the controller for a visual approach which he immediately granted.the ceiling at the time was 1;700 broken which would be approximately 400 feet below the vectoring altitude and I believe the captain wanted to descend below that to conduct a visual approach. What we obviously should have done was to remain at the vectoring altitude and conduct the approach normally or possibly request a contact approach.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: The flight crew of a G-IV reported descending below the assigned altitude after flying through the localizer in VMC conditions.
Narrative: During vectors for an ILS approach our aircraft was sequenced to follow a regional jet. After realizing that our aircraft was in a better position to be first on the approach the controller changed the order; had us keep our speed up and vectored us onto a base leg for the ILS. The subsequent intercepting vector however carried us through the localizer (most likely due to our higher than normal speed) and as we continued our turn to re-intercept the localizer I noticed the captain had descended to 2;400 MSL (100 feet below our vectoring altitude). I immediately brought this to his attention; he responded; and I then continued to complete the appropriate checklist. After the completion of that checklist I began looking for the airport. It was then that I realized the captain had descended to 1;800 MSL and had not yet re-intercepted the localizer. Since we were VMC; knew the environment extremely well; and also knew there were no obstacles in the area I decided (wrongly) not to press the issue with the captain. Fortunately in approximately 10 to 15 seconds I visually picked up the airport and asked the controller for a visual approach which he immediately granted.The ceiling at the time was 1;700 broken which would be approximately 400 feet below the vectoring altitude and I believe the captain wanted to descend below that to conduct a visual approach. What we obviously should have done was to remain at the vectoring altitude and conduct the approach normally or possibly request a contact approach.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.