Atx small transport started approach before reaching the IAF for controller in charge.

Attributes
ACN	153536
Time
Date	199008
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cic
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1700 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zoa
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 400 flight time total : 2500 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	153536
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Had been cleared for the chico VOR runway 31R approach by ZOA. Established inbound on the controller in charge 147 degree right at 2000'. I misidented aberg intersection, the final approach fix, thinking I had already passed it, when I fact I had not yet reached it. Descent was made to 1700', 300' below the MDA for the route segment I was established on. Immediate correction was made, climb back to 2000'.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATX SMT STARTED APCH BEFORE REACHING THE IAF FOR CIC.

Narrative: HAD BEEN CLRED FOR THE CHICO VOR RWY 31R APCH BY ZOA. ESTABLISHED INBND ON THE CIC 147 DEG R AT 2000'. I MISIDENTED ABERG INTXN, THE FINAL APCH FIX, THINKING I HAD ALREADY PASSED IT, WHEN I FACT I HAD NOT YET REACHED IT. DSNT WAS MADE TO 1700', 300' BELOW THE MDA FOR THE RTE SEGMENT I WAS ESTABLISHED ON. IMMEDIATE CORRECTION WAS MADE, CLB BACK TO 2000'.

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.