IFR flight, cleared for approach, descends too soon.

Attributes
ACN	175822
Time
Date	199104
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bce
State Reference	UT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 13000 msl bound upper : 17000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : direct enroute airway : v8
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 70 flight time total : 875
ASRS Report	175822
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was flying IFR to bryce canyon, utah, at 17000' MSL. At about 28 mi from bce R225 I was cleared for the approach. I immediately began a descent from 17000'. Since it was VFR WX and VFR WX had been forecast, I had not dilligently studied the approach plate. At about 13000' MSL, I looked at the plate and saw the IAF was 12.0 DME from bce. Although the controller didn't complain about the premature descent, I should have been more familiar with the approach procedure regardless of WX. I think the incident occurred because I was not even concerned with an IFR approach, and when I was 'cleared' I started thinking about getting down quickly since I was so close to the airport.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: IFR FLT, CLRED FOR APCH, DESCENDS TOO SOON.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING IFR TO BRYCE CANYON, UTAH, AT 17000' MSL. AT ABOUT 28 MI FROM BCE R225 I WAS CLRED FOR THE APCH. I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN A DSNT FROM 17000'. SINCE IT WAS VFR WX AND VFR WX HAD BEEN FORECAST, I HAD NOT DILLIGENTLY STUDIED THE APCH PLATE. AT ABOUT 13000' MSL, I LOOKED AT THE PLATE AND SAW THE IAF WAS 12.0 DME FROM BCE. ALTHOUGH THE CTLR DIDN'T COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PREMATURE DSNT, I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE APCH PROC REGARDLESS OF WX. I THINK THE INCIDENT OCCURRED BECAUSE I WAS NOT EVEN CONCERNED WITH AN IFR APCH, AND WHEN I WAS 'CLRED' I STARTED THINKING ABOUT GETTING DOWN QUICKLY SINCE I WAS SO CLOSE TO THE ARPT.

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.