Small transport was high on altitude restr while making a charted visual approach.

Attributes
ACN	314111
Time
Date	199508
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : jfk
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90 tower : teb
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 900
ASRS Report	314111
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	oversight : supervisor
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

Assigned the cedar grove visual approach for the first time. I found it extremely difficult to spot landmarks and the chart was misleading in its identify of crossing restrs. This approach needs DME fixes to properly identify crossing points. I misidented one crossing point and thus was too high at 1 point and misidented that same point. If you examine the approach they use a mall, a highway, and a factory as identing points. Get real! All new jersey is malls, factories, hwys, and believe me, they aren't particularly distinguished. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: teb supervisor stated they were having some problems with pilots being able to locate landmarks when the approach went into effect in aug/95. This problem was improved with pilot familiarity with approach. Facility is going to add a picture of landmarks to approach plate to help pilots identify them.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMT WAS HIGH ON ALT RESTR WHILE MAKING A CHARTED VISUAL APCH.

Narrative: ASSIGNED THE CEDAR GROVE VISUAL APCH FOR THE FIRST TIME. I FOUND IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SPOT LANDMARKS AND THE CHART WAS MISLEADING IN ITS IDENT OF XING RESTRS. THIS APCH NEEDS DME FIXES TO PROPERLY IDENT XING POINTS. I MISIDENTED ONE XING POINT AND THUS WAS TOO HIGH AT 1 POINT AND MISIDENTED THAT SAME POINT. IF YOU EXAMINE THE APCH THEY USE A MALL, A HWY, AND A FACTORY AS IDENTING POINTS. GET REAL! ALL NEW JERSEY IS MALLS, FACTORIES, HWYS, AND BELIEVE ME, THEY AREN'T PARTICULARLY DISTINGUISHED. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: TEB SUPVR STATED THEY WERE HAVING SOME PROBS WITH PLTS BEING ABLE TO LOCATE LANDMARKS WHEN THE APCH WENT INTO EFFECT IN AUG/95. THIS PROB WAS IMPROVED WITH PLT FAMILIARITY WITH APCH. FACILITY IS GOING TO ADD A PICTURE OF LANDMARKS TO APCH PLATE TO HELP PLTS IDENT THEM.

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.