Mdt aircraft on localizer approach sighted runway visually and continued approach visually, but went below the step down fix and tower local controller intervened with a low altitude alert.

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Attributes
ACN	370640
Time
Date	199706
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cmh
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1300 msl bound upper : 1440
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : cmh
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 1800 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	370640
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 175 flight time total : 5700 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	370234
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While on the localizer approach to runway 10L at cmh, I proceeded on descent after passing the OM. At approximately 1500 ft we gained visual contact with the runway and continued down. Then at approximately 1300 ft columbus tower issued to us an altitude alert. At the time both the captain and I were confused at the alert because we had the airport/runway in sight. We continued our descent to the runway without incident. After taxi we had discussed the reason for the alert and concluded that we were probably below the final stepdown altitude for the localizer approach (1440 ft MSL). We both knew we were operating safely because of our visual contact but felt that this report may help clear up the issue. Additionally, after landing we noticed that ceiling conditions were ragged explaining our sighting of the runway earlier on the approach.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MDT ACFT ON LOC APCH SIGHTED RWY VISUALLY AND CONTINUED APCH VISUALLY, BUT WENT BELOW THE STEP DOWN FIX AND TWR LCL CTLR INTERVENED WITH A LOW ALT ALERT.

Narrative: WHILE ON THE LOC APCH TO RWY 10L AT CMH, I PROCEEDED ON DSCNT AFTER PASSING THE OM. AT APPROX 1500 FT WE GAINED VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE RWY AND CONTINUED DOWN. THEN AT APPROX 1300 FT COLUMBUS TWR ISSUED TO US AN ALT ALERT. AT THE TIME BOTH THE CAPT AND I WERE CONFUSED AT THE ALERT BECAUSE WE HAD THE ARPT/RWY IN SIGHT. WE CONTINUED OUR DSCNT TO THE RWY WITHOUT INCIDENT. AFTER TAXI WE HAD DISCUSSED THE REASON FOR THE ALERT AND CONCLUDED THAT WE WERE PROBABLY BELOW THE FINAL STEPDOWN ALT FOR THE LOC APCH (1440 FT MSL). WE BOTH KNEW WE WERE OPERATING SAFELY BECAUSE OF OUR VISUAL CONTACT BUT FELT THAT THIS RPT MAY HELP CLR UP THE ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY, AFTER LNDG WE NOTICED THAT CEILING CONDITIONS WERE RAGGED EXPLAINING OUR SIGHTING OF THE RWY EARLIER ON 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.