Failure of ATC to call the fix and descent below MDA on approach.

Attributes
ACN	303831
Time
Date	199505
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : rnt
State Reference	WA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 860 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sea artcc : zoa
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	approach : visual enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 900 flight time type : 70
ASRS Report	303831
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation Pilot Deviation
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

Our aircraft was cleared for the approach at 2 mi from the fix. The radar controller did not call the fix and approach facility was very busy. There is no identify for the fix other than ATC calling it. We had the airport in sight and the student descended below MDA in VFR conditions. The controller asked if we were at the MDA yet. We replied, 'affirmative.' she then instructed us to contact renton tower. On 2 other flts from our flight school, the controller did not call the fix. We should have queried the controller, however, I was trying to teach the student and make an impression about when to go down to MDA. The controller should say 'I will call the FAF' when cleared for the approach.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FAILURE OF ATC TO CALL THE FIX AND DSCNT BELOW MDA ON APCH.

Narrative: OUR ACFT WAS CLRED FOR THE APCH AT 2 MI FROM THE FIX. THE RADAR CTLR DID NOT CALL THE FIX AND APCH FACILITY WAS VERY BUSY. THERE IS NO IDENT FOR THE FIX OTHER THAN ATC CALLING IT. WE HAD THE ARPT IN SIGHT AND THE STUDENT DSNDED BELOW MDA IN VFR CONDITIONS. THE CTLR ASKED IF WE WERE AT THE MDA YET. WE REPLIED, 'AFFIRMATIVE.' SHE THEN INSTRUCTED US TO CONTACT RENTON TWR. ON 2 OTHER FLTS FROM OUR FLT SCHOOL, THE CTLR DID NOT CALL THE FIX. WE SHOULD HAVE QUERIED THE CTLR, HOWEVER, I WAS TRYING TO TEACH THE STUDENT AND MAKE AN IMPRESSION ABOUT WHEN TO GO DOWN TO MDA. THE CTLR SHOULD SAY 'I WILL CALL THE FAF' WHEN CLRED FOR THE APCH.

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.