C421 pilot crossed the VOR below the assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	418580
Time
Date	199811
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : gup
State Reference	NM
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8500 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Golden Eagle 421
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 2800 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	418580
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

ATC instructed 'cross gallup VOR at or above 9000 ft, cleared for VOR/DME a approach to window rock.' after taking off gallup runway 24, I reached VOR at 8500 ft and continued the approach. The intermediate altitude for VOR/DME a approach was 8400 ft. The WX was MVFR/IFR. I should have taken off runway 6 so that I could have had more time/distance to be able to climb 9000 ft before reaching gallup VOR.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C421 PLT CROSSED THE VOR BELOW THE ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: ATC INSTRUCTED 'CROSS GALLUP VOR AT OR ABOVE 9000 FT, CLRED FOR VOR/DME A APCH TO WINDOW ROCK.' AFTER TAKING OFF GALLUP RWY 24, I REACHED VOR AT 8500 FT AND CONTINUED THE APCH. THE INTERMEDIATE ALT FOR VOR/DME A APCH WAS 8400 FT. THE WX WAS MVFR/IFR. I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN OFF RWY 6 SO THAT I COULD HAVE HAD MORE TIME/DISTANCE TO BE ABLE TO CLB 9000 FT BEFORE REACHING GALLUP VOR.

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.