An air carrier crew got low on a VOR approach.

Attributes
ACN	306030
Time
Date	199505
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : nas
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 600 msl bound upper : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : nas tower : nas
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 descent other
Route In Use	approach : straight in
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 12000
ASRS Report	306030
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On arrival at bermuda, WX was reported to be 2800 ft overcast with better than 10 mi visibility. We were cleared the VOR runway 12 approach and descended to 1500 ft. At 1500 ft we misread our EFIS displays showing the 6 DME fix and descended to our MDA of 600 ft about 3 mi early. This was caused by our EFIS showing 6 mi to go to the 6 mi fix of the approach. As we leveled at the MDA and crosschecked the DME reading, we realized our error. We elected to remain at the MDA and not climb back up as we were over the water, were in visual conditions, and had the field in sight. At no time did we go lower than the MDA until we were in a position for a normal visual approach to landing. No traffic conflict occurred and safety was never compromised. Suggestion: on EFIS equipped aircraft, attention be stressed on VOR approachs where DME fixes (named 'xx- 06' as a point in the FMC) be checked with actual DME from VOR, not confused with 6 mi from the 6 mi fix!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR CREW GOT LOW ON A VOR APCH.

Narrative: ON ARR AT BERMUDA, WX WAS RPTED TO BE 2800 FT OVCST WITH BETTER THAN 10 MI VISIBILITY. WE WERE CLRED THE VOR RWY 12 APCH AND DSNDED TO 1500 FT. AT 1500 FT WE MISREAD OUR EFIS DISPLAYS SHOWING THE 6 DME FIX AND DSNDED TO OUR MDA OF 600 FT ABOUT 3 MI EARLY. THIS WAS CAUSED BY OUR EFIS SHOWING 6 MI TO GO TO THE 6 MI FIX OF THE APCH. AS WE LEVELED AT THE MDA AND XCHKED THE DME READING, WE REALIZED OUR ERROR. WE ELECTED TO REMAIN AT THE MDA AND NOT CLB BACK UP AS WE WERE OVER THE WATER, WERE IN VISUAL CONDITIONS, AND HAD THE FIELD IN SIGHT. AT NO TIME DID WE GO LOWER THAN THE MDA UNTIL WE WERE IN A POS FOR A NORMAL VISUAL APCH TO LNDG. NO TFC CONFLICT OCCURRED AND SAFETY WAS NEVER COMPROMISED. SUGGESTION: ON EFIS EQUIPPED ACFT, ATTN BE STRESSED ON VOR APCHS WHERE DME FIXES (NAMED 'XX- 06' AS A POINT IN THE FMC) BE CHKED WITH ACTUAL DME FROM VOR, NOT CONFUSED WITH 6 MI FROM THE 6 MI 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.