Light transport captain descended below MDA on non precision approach in ak.

Attributes
ACN	443527
Time
Date	199907
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : big.airport
State Reference	AK
Altitude	msl single value : 1610
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zan.artcc
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Light Transport, High Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : instrument non precision
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 115 flight time total : 13975 flight time type : 98
ASRS Report	443527
Person 2
Affiliation	government other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : company policies non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Resolutory Action	flight crew : diverted to alternate flight crew : executed missed approach
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

IFR flight plan fbk direct pabi. Was on VOR/DME runway 18 approach pabi, 2 aircraft prior made approach successfully. We initiated approach at approximately 1.2 DME and at MDA we had intermittent ground contact but not runway environment in sight. At that point I told copilot I was going to descend an additional 50 ft -- did so and lost all ground contact and initiated missed approach and returned to fairbanks. 2 prior aircraft successfully completed approachs and reported WX at minimums.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LTT CAPT DSNDED BELOW MDA ON NON PRECISION APCH IN AK.

Narrative: IFR FLT PLAN FBK DIRECT PABI. WAS ON VOR/DME RWY 18 APCH PABI, 2 ACFT PRIOR MADE APCH SUCCESSFULLY. WE INITIATED APCH AT APPROX 1.2 DME AND AT MDA WE HAD INTERMITTENT GND CONTACT BUT NOT RWY ENVIRONMENT IN SIGHT. AT THAT POINT I TOLD COPLT I WAS GOING TO DSND AN ADDITIONAL 50 FT -- DID SO AND LOST ALL GND CONTACT AND INITIATED MISSED APCH AND RETURNED TO FAIRBANKS. 2 PRIOR ACFT SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED APCHS AND RPTED WX AT MINIMUMS.

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.