IFR training flight, cleared for approach, descends below MEA prior to initial approach fix. Returns...

Attributes
ACN	212999
Time
Date	199206
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lmt
State Reference	OR
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8500 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : v452
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 170
ASRS Report	213999
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : trainee
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : far other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While on an IFR training flight from rno to lmt, ZSE cleared our aircraft for the ILS approach at lmt from approximately 45 mi out. The student started the descent from FL200 and was apparently planning to descend to 8000 ft by tulip intersection (initial approach fix for ILS at lmt) and forgot about the MEA of 9000 ft for the airway. The student was descending at a high vertical rate and passed through the MEA by more than 300 ft while in VFR conditions. I was in the process of explaining the situation and correcting the problem when center called us. Center was advised that we were in VFR conditions and student misunderstood clearance and we were climbing back to 9000 ft. The student was debriefed on the situation that occurred and that he must maintain the MEA until tulip intersection, then he is allowed to descend to 8000 ft for that segment to intercept the localizer.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: IFR TRAINING FLT, CLRED FOR APCH, DSNDS BELOW MEA PRIOR TO INITIAL APCH FIX. RETURNS TO MEA.

Narrative: WHILE ON AN IFR TRAINING FLT FROM RNO TO LMT, ZSE CLRED OUR ACFT FOR THE ILS APCH AT LMT FROM APPROX 45 MI OUT. THE STUDENT STARTED THE DSCNT FROM FL200 AND WAS APPARENTLY PLANNING TO DSND TO 8000 FT BY TULIP INTXN (INITIAL APCH FIX FOR ILS AT LMT) AND FORGOT ABOUT THE MEA OF 9000 FT FOR THE AIRWAY. THE STUDENT WAS DSNDING AT A HIGH VERT RATE AND PASSED THROUGH THE MEA BY MORE THAN 300 FT WHILE IN VFR CONDITIONS. I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF EXPLAINING THE SITUATION AND CORRECTING THE PROBLEM WHEN CTR CALLED US. CTR WAS ADVISED THAT WE WERE IN VFR CONDITIONS AND STUDENT MISUNDERSTOOD CLRNC AND WE WERE CLBING BACK TO 9000 FT. THE STUDENT WAS DEBRIEFED ON THE SITUATION THAT OCCURRED AND THAT HE MUST MAINTAIN THE MEA UNTIL TULIP INTXN, THEN HE IS ALLOWED TO DSND TO 8000 FT FOR THAT SEGMENT TO INTERCEPT THE LOC.

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.

IFR training flight, cleared for approach, descends below MEA prior to initial approach fix. Returns to MEA.