GA small aircraft descends below clearance altitude outside IAF for runway 7R lax.

Attributes
ACN	148461
Time
Date	199006
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lax
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1600 msl bound upper : 1600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : lax
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : student pilot : commercial pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 380 flight time type : 25
ASRS Report	148461
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Approachs into lax had become routine at this time. As usual I received a WX brief; conditions were IFR but not bad. I set myself up for the usual 25L approach and departed. I was en route when I discovered my #1 navigation/communication and ADF lights failed to light up. I knew this would be a problem when my clearance was changed to direct smo VOR. After a great deal of vectoring, I was relieved to be 'cleared for the approach.' I decided to take a short break. I had advised approach I was negative DME, but not negative G/south. I received an altitude alert at turka intersection. After that incident I recovered and the approach progressed adequately.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA DESCENDS BELOW CLRNC ALT OUTSIDE IAF FOR RWY 7R LAX.

Narrative: APCHS INTO LAX HAD BECOME ROUTINE AT THIS TIME. AS USUAL I RECEIVED A WX BRIEF; CONDITIONS WERE IFR BUT NOT BAD. I SET MYSELF UP FOR THE USUAL 25L APCH AND DEPARTED. I WAS ENRTE WHEN I DISCOVERED MY #1 NAV/COM AND ADF LIGHTS FAILED TO LIGHT UP. I KNEW THIS WOULD BE A PROB WHEN MY CLRNC WAS CHANGED TO DIRECT SMO VOR. AFTER A GREAT DEAL OF VECTORING, I WAS RELIEVED TO BE 'CLRED FOR THE APCH.' I DECIDED TO TAKE A SHORT BREAK. I HAD ADVISED APCH I WAS NEGATIVE DME, BUT NOT NEGATIVE G/S. I RECEIVED AN ALT ALERT AT TURKA INTXN. AFTER THAT INCIDENT I RECOVERED AND THE APCH PROGRESSED ADEQUATELY.

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.