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An swiii flight crew descends too soon on the GPS-B approach into dnl airport, GA. First officer admits to misreading the GPS overlay distance for the start of descent point.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 400686 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199804 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : ags airport : dnl |
| State Reference | GA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 1700 msl bound upper : 2000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : ags |
| Operator | general aviation : corporate |
| Make Model Name | Merlin III |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Route In Use | arrival other enroute : on vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 13500 |
| ASRS Report | 400686 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 1300 |
| ASRS Report | 400682 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
On apr/xa/98 at approximately XA45, I received vectors to intercept the final for the VOR/DME or GPS-B approach into augusta, GA, daniels field (dnl). Upon intercepting the 161 degree radial, I asked the copilot to call the descent for the stepdowns. The copilot misread the ebans fix, located at 10.0 DME for the D5.0 (the GPS overlay fix) being at about 6 DME, and called 'down to 1060' resulting in starting the descent too soon. At about 1700 ft MSL approach called, 'low altitude alert, pull up.' at that time I initiated a climb. At ebans, I re-entered the procedure and completed the approach. After I talked to the other pilot about the approach, we both agreed that the GPS overlay's information being printed with the same boldness as the information on the primary approach could be misread for the DME fix. Supplemental information from acn 400682: I would like to suggest that the GPS overlay's information not be printed with the same boldness as the information on the primary approach. Anyone thinking that the first fix is ebans and glances down, I feel is subject to pick up the first number given, D5.0. Just as I did.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN SWIII FLC DSNDS TOO SOON ON THE GPS-B APCH INTO DNL ARPT, GA. FO ADMITS TO MISREADING THE GPS OVERLAY DISTANCE FOR THE START OF DSCNT POINT.
Narrative: ON APR/XA/98 AT APPROX XA45, I RECEIVED VECTORS TO INTERCEPT THE FINAL FOR THE VOR/DME OR GPS-B APCH INTO AUGUSTA, GA, DANIELS FIELD (DNL). UPON INTERCEPTING THE 161 DEG RADIAL, I ASKED THE COPLT TO CALL THE DSCNT FOR THE STEPDOWNS. THE COPLT MISREAD THE EBANS FIX, LOCATED AT 10.0 DME FOR THE D5.0 (THE GPS OVERLAY FIX) BEING AT ABOUT 6 DME, AND CALLED 'DOWN TO 1060' RESULTING IN STARTING THE DSCNT TOO SOON. AT ABOUT 1700 FT MSL APCH CALLED, 'LOW ALT ALERT, PULL UP.' AT THAT TIME I INITIATED A CLB. AT EBANS, I RE-ENTERED THE PROC AND COMPLETED THE APCH. AFTER I TALKED TO THE OTHER PLT ABOUT THE APCH, WE BOTH AGREED THAT THE GPS OVERLAY'S INFO BEING PRINTED WITH THE SAME BOLDNESS AS THE INFO ON THE PRIMARY APCH COULD BE MISREAD FOR THE DME FIX. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 400682: I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT THE GPS OVERLAY'S INFO NOT BE PRINTED WITH THE SAME BOLDNESS AS THE INFO ON THE PRIMARY APCH. ANYONE THINKING THAT THE FIRST FIX IS EBANS AND GLANCES DOWN, I FEEL IS SUBJECT TO PICK UP THE FIRST NUMBER GIVEN, D5.0. JUST AS I DID.
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.