Altitude crossing restr. Air carrier was instructed to cross the final approach fix at 3000 ft. Instead the captain intercepts the GS and crosses the FAF about 700 ft lower.

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Attributes
ACN	310780
Time
Date	199507
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : irra airport : dfw
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2333 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dfw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	310780
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Operating as an air carrier flight from lch to dfw at XA30 on jul/tue/95. We were approaching dfw established on the localizer for runway 31R. At 3000 ft, 10 mi (approximately) out, we reported the field in sight. The controller said 'maintain 3000 ft until the marker, cleared for visual approach runway 31R, visual traffic going into love field.' at 3000 ft when intercepting the GS, the captain began his descent (vande intersection 7.5 DME dfw). The OM is actually at 5.7 DME divvr intersection. As the captain began his descent, I pointed out that we were not to the marker yet. He said we were just about there and continued. We were close enough in visual conditions with the TCASII showing no aircraft near so I decided not to further press the issue. We landed at dfw without incident. We both had done the approach so many times that we did not have the approach plates on the page for the approach for quick reference. Especially since it was good VFR conditions. I believe if we would have had them out, a quick reference would have avoided the situation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT XING RESTR. ACR WAS INSTRUCTED TO CROSS THE FINAL APCH FIX AT 3000 FT. INSTEAD THE CAPT INTERCEPTS THE GS AND CROSSES THE FAF ABOUT 700 FT LOWER.

Narrative: OPERATING AS AN ACR FLT FROM LCH TO DFW AT XA30 ON JUL/TUE/95. WE WERE APCHING DFW ESTABLISHED ON THE LOC FOR RWY 31R. AT 3000 FT, 10 MI (APPROX) OUT, WE RPTED THE FIELD IN SIGHT. THE CTLR SAID 'MAINTAIN 3000 FT UNTIL THE MARKER, CLRED FOR VISUAL APCH RWY 31R, VISUAL TFC GOING INTO LOVE FIELD.' AT 3000 FT WHEN INTERCEPTING THE GS, THE CAPT BEGAN HIS DSCNT (VANDE INTXN 7.5 DME DFW). THE OM IS ACTUALLY AT 5.7 DME DIVVR INTXN. AS THE CAPT BEGAN HIS DSCNT, I POINTED OUT THAT WE WERE NOT TO THE MARKER YET. HE SAID WE WERE JUST ABOUT THERE AND CONTINUED. WE WERE CLOSE ENOUGH IN VISUAL CONDITIONS WITH THE TCASII SHOWING NO ACFT NEAR SO I DECIDED NOT TO FURTHER PRESS THE ISSUE. WE LANDED AT DFW WITHOUT INCIDENT. WE BOTH HAD DONE THE APCH SO MANY TIMES THAT WE DID NOT HAVE THE APCH PLATES ON THE PAGE FOR THE APCH FOR QUICK REF. ESPECIALLY SINCE IT WAS GOOD VFR CONDITIONS. I BELIEVE IF WE WOULD HAVE HAD THEM OUT, A QUICK REF WOULD HAVE AVOIDED THE SIT.

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.