Medium large transport on NDB approach is disoriented and descends to MDA prior to FAF.

Attributes
ACN	263826
Time
Date	199402
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : btr
State Reference	LA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 700 msl bound upper : 1700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : btr
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 177 flight time total : 10389 flight time type : 192
ASRS Report	263826
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	263823
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While on vectors for localizer back course to runway 4L, controller asked if we would like vectors for NDB 13 instead. Thinking we had time to prepare for the approach properly, we accepted. In reality, we were not able to review and prepare for the approach. The controller reported he had a low altitude alert and asked our altitude. This caught us off guard. So he asked again and asked if we knew where we were. We thought we were inside the final fix, when, in reality, we were just outside and were at MDA. He then asked if we saw the field. We did, so he cleared us for the visual approach. By that time the copilot had started a climb back to 1700 ft MSL. The NDB 13 was not in the FMS database but the runway was. When putting the runway as the active waypoint you also get 'FF13.' this we both mistook as the final approach fix, when it is really outside the fix. In the future, I will not accept vectors for another approach unless there is time to fully review the new approach or ask for a radar fix.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG ON NDB APCH IS DISORIENTED AND DSNDS TO MDA PRIOR TO FAF.

Narrative: WHILE ON VECTORS FOR LOC BACK COURSE TO RWY 4L, CTLR ASKED IF WE WOULD LIKE VECTORS FOR NDB 13 INSTEAD. THINKING WE HAD TIME TO PREPARE FOR THE APCH PROPERLY, WE ACCEPTED. IN REALITY, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO REVIEW AND PREPARE FOR THE APCH. THE CTLR RPTED HE HAD A LOW ALT ALERT AND ASKED OUR ALT. THIS CAUGHT US OFF GUARD. SO HE ASKED AGAIN AND ASKED IF WE KNEW WHERE WE WERE. WE THOUGHT WE WERE INSIDE THE FINAL FIX, WHEN, IN REALITY, WE WERE JUST OUTSIDE AND WERE AT MDA. HE THEN ASKED IF WE SAW THE FIELD. WE DID, SO HE CLRED US FOR THE VISUAL APCH. BY THAT TIME THE COPLT HAD STARTED A CLB BACK TO 1700 FT MSL. THE NDB 13 WAS NOT IN THE FMS DATABASE BUT THE RWY WAS. WHEN PUTTING THE RWY AS THE ACTIVE WAYPOINT YOU ALSO GET 'FF13.' THIS WE BOTH MISTOOK AS THE FINAL APCH FIX, WHEN IT IS REALLY OUTSIDE THE FIX. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL NOT ACCEPT VECTORS FOR ANOTHER APCH UNLESS THERE IS TIME TO FULLY REVIEW THE NEW APCH OR ASK FOR A RADAR FIX.

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.