Cpr descended below MEA 20 miles southeast of fot.

Attributes
ACN	177559
Time
Date	199105
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : fot
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 6700
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : v27
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 82 flight time total : 16200 flight time type : 265
ASRS Report	177559
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
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:

I was cleared for the approach to arcata, ca, airport, while about 20 mi south of fortuna VOR on V27. I left 7000' and descended to 5000' when ZSE said the MEA was 6700'. I answered that I misread the chart and climbed back to 6700'.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CPR DESCENDED BELOW MEA 20 MILES SOUTHEAST OF FOT.

Narrative: I WAS CLRED FOR THE APCH TO ARCATA, CA, ARPT, WHILE ABOUT 20 MI S OF FORTUNA VOR ON V27. I LEFT 7000' AND DSNDED TO 5000' WHEN ZSE SAID THE MEA WAS 6700'. I ANSWERED THAT I MISREAD THE CHART AND CLBED BACK TO 6700'.

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.