<< >> NASA ASRS Report 392871, February 1998

B727 on a visual approach descended below assigned altitude prior to 5 DME. Flight crew were cleared to 1600 ft until 5 DME.

Attributes
ACN	392871
Time
Date	199802
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dca
State Reference	DC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1100 msl bound upper : 1600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dca
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 350
ASRS Report	392871
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 19400 flight time type : 15000
ASRS Report	392990
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After being cleared for mt vernon runway 36 visual approach, told to maintain 1600 ft until 5 DME. While switching to tower frequency and tuning the ILS frequency, I failed to monitor the altitude, and the pilot flying allowed descent to 1100 ft at approximately 7 DME. Was also distracted by trying to slow for traffic landing ahead which was 40 KTS slower as reported by approach. I brought the deviation to the captain's attention, and altitude was maintained at 1100 ft until intercepting a normal glidepath. A normal landing was accomplished.

Related reports:

• Cleared for a night visual approach to runway 35L at den; th...
• Cleared for a visual approach to runway 27 at san; the fligh...
• A CE525 pilot descended prematurely when cleared for a visua...
• After cleared for a visual approach the flight crew of a B73...

	Enter your search terms Submit search form
	Web www.37000feet.com

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727 ON A VISUAL APCH DSNDED BELOW ASSIGNED ALT PRIOR TO 5 DME. FLC WERE CLRED TO 1600 FT UNTIL 5 DME.

Narrative: AFTER BEING CLRED FOR MT VERNON RWY 36 VISUAL APCH, TOLD TO MAINTAIN 1600 FT UNTIL 5 DME. WHILE SWITCHING TO TWR FREQUENCY AND TUNING THE ILS FREQ, I FAILED TO MONITOR THE ALT, AND THE PLT FLYING ALLOWED DSCNT TO 1100 FT AT APPROX 7 DME. WAS ALSO DISTRACTED BY TRYING TO SLOW FOR TFC LNDG AHEAD WHICH WAS 40 KTS SLOWER AS REPORTED BY APCH. I BROUGHT THE DEVIATION TO THE CAPT'S ATTN, AND ALT WAS MAINTAINED AT 1100 FT UNTIL INTERCEPTING A NORMAL GLIDEPATH. A NORMAL LNDG WAS ACCOMPLISHED.

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.