Small aircraft pilot descended below cleared altitude due DME failure and unable to determine inters...

Attributes
ACN	225621
Time
Date	199211
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dkb
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1350 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ord
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 2500 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	225621
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was shooting a VOR DME approach to dekalb, il. I was established on the approach and was told to report corn intersection, at which time I realized my DME was inoperable. Not knowing where the intersection was, I dropped to the min descent altitude 4 mi too soon when the controller told me I had not reached the intersection yet. I was in better condition, so I stayed at the min descent altitude and landed the plane. I said nothing to the controller about the DME.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT DSNDED BELOW CLRED ALT DUE DME FAILURE AND UNABLE TO DETERMINE INTXN.

Narrative: I WAS SHOOTING A VOR DME APCH TO DEKALB, IL. I WAS ESTABLISHED ON THE APCH AND WAS TOLD TO RPT CORN INTXN, AT WHICH TIME I REALIZED MY DME WAS INOPERABLE. NOT KNOWING WHERE THE INTXN WAS, I DROPPED TO THE MIN DSCNT ALT 4 MI TOO SOON WHEN THE CTLR TOLD ME I HAD NOT REACHED THE INTXN YET. I WAS IN BETTER CONDITION, SO I STAYED AT THE MIN DSCNT ALT AND LANDED THE PLANE. I SAID NOTHING TO THE CTLR ABOUT THE DME.

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.

Small aircraft pilot descended below cleared altitude due DME failure and unable to determine intersection.