<< >> NASA ASRS Report 141860, April 1990

Small aircraft pilot on INS approach using a STAR. Cleared for approach and upon interception of localizer descends to published altitude. Low altitude alert and instructions to climb 1000'.

Attributes
ACN	141860
Time
Date	199004
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : fat
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1700 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : fat tracon : ont
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 2100 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	141860
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation

Narrative:

Cleared by approach, 'altta 4 arrival.' I asked if cleared to descend from 6000' (assigned) to 3500' per arrival.' answered by fat approach, 'negative, fly radials only.' therefore, I maintained last assigned altitude of 6000'. At altta was cleared for ILS 29R approach, but altta is not shown on commercial chart approach plate. I estimated I was near selma, which is shown on plate, and descended to 2000'. When established on localizer, descended to 1700' per approach plate. Tower gave low altitude alert. Maintained 1800' to hilan then flew normal ILS to landing. Suggest: add selma to altta 4 approach STAR, or add altta to approach plate to eliminate confusion, and change ATC procedure reference altta 4 to say, 'cleared altta 4 arrival, fly radials only, maintain XXXX altitude.'

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT ON INS APCH USING A STAR. CLEARED FOR APCH AND UPON INTERCEPTION OF LOCALIZER DESCENDS TO PUBLISHED ALT. LOW ALT ALERT AND INSTRUCTIONS TO CLIMB 1000'.

Narrative: CLRED BY APCH, 'ALTTA 4 ARR.' I ASKED IF CLRED TO DSND FROM 6000' (ASSIGNED) TO 3500' PER ARR.' ANSWERED BY FAT APCH, 'NEGATIVE, FLY RADIALS ONLY.' THEREFORE, I MAINTAINED LAST ASSIGNED ALT OF 6000'. AT ALTTA WAS CLRED FOR ILS 29R APCH, BUT ALTTA IS NOT SHOWN ON COMMERCIAL CHART APCH PLATE. I ESTIMATED I WAS NEAR SELMA, WHICH IS SHOWN ON PLATE, AND DSNDED TO 2000'. WHEN ESTABLISHED ON LOC, DSNDED TO 1700' PER APCH PLATE. TWR GAVE LOW ALT ALERT. MAINTAINED 1800' TO HILAN THEN FLEW NORMAL ILS TO LNDG. SUGGEST: ADD SELMA TO ALTTA 4 APCH STAR, OR ADD ALTTA TO APCH PLATE TO ELIMINATE CONFUSION, AND CHANGE ATC PROC REF ALTTA 4 TO SAY, 'CLRED ALTTA 4 ARR, FLY RADIALS ONLY, MAINTAIN XXXX ALT.'

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