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Flight crew of a DC9 started descent for an ILS approach 3 mi prior to the outer fix resulting in ATCT controller alert of the early descent.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 497346 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200101 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : dtw.airport |
| State Reference | MI |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 2700 msl bound upper : 3000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Weather Elements | Snow |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tower : dtw.tower |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | DC-9 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | ils localizer & glide slope : 3r other vortac |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Route In Use | approach : instrument precision |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 2000 |
| ASRS Report | 497346 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation |
| Independent Detector | atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued alert flight crew : returned to assigned altitude flight crew : returned to original clearance |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
Clt-dtw. Vectored to ILS runway 3R, GS OTS, at 3000 ft MSL. We had briefed the approach, noted localizer descent points on approach, and had tuned and idented the appropriate navaids. Reported WX 3200 overcast, 5 mi visibility in light snow. At 3000 ft MSL, we had ground contact. Due to multiple approach checklist tasks, configuring, and ATC 'chatter,' we inadvertently used the wrong side of the VOR DME to identify the FAF and began our descent to MDA 2.5 mi early. Tower gave us a 'hint' and we realized our error and climbed back to altitude. This would have been truly 'scary' had we not had ground contact and 5 mi visibility. Had we been IFR with obstructions it could have been disastrous.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: FLC OF A DC9 STARTED DSCNT FOR AN ILS APCH 3 MI PRIOR TO THE OUTER FIX RESULTING IN ATCT CTLR ALERT OF THE EARLY DSCNT.
Narrative: CLT-DTW. VECTORED TO ILS RWY 3R, GS OTS, AT 3000 FT MSL. WE HAD BRIEFED THE APCH, NOTED LOC DSCNT POINTS ON APCH, AND HAD TUNED AND IDENTED THE APPROPRIATE NAVAIDS. RPTED WX 3200 OVCST, 5 MI VIS IN LIGHT SNOW. AT 3000 FT MSL, WE HAD GND CONTACT. DUE TO MULTIPLE APCH CHKLIST TASKS, CONFIGURING, AND ATC 'CHATTER,' WE INADVERTENTLY USED THE WRONG SIDE OF THE VOR DME TO IDENT THE FAF AND BEGAN OUR DSCNT TO MDA 2.5 MI EARLY. TWR GAVE US A 'HINT' AND WE REALIZED OUR ERROR AND CLBED BACK TO ALT. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN TRULY 'SCARY' HAD WE NOT HAD GND CONTACT AND 5 MI VISIBILITY. HAD WE BEEN IFR WITH OBSTRUCTIONS IT COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS.
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.