Piper PA31 pilot descended below an approach fix during a VOR approach resulting in approach control...

Attributes
ACN	519346
Time
Date	200107
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dnl.airport
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl single value : 1200
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Weather Elements	other
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	PA-31T-1 Cheyenne I
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : approach climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	approach : instrument non precision
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 7100 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	519346
Person 2
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert none taken : detected after the fact other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

After a long night of waiting on a charter flight, I was asked to fly a trip for a customer. I asked another pilot to ride along to help watch me and help with the workload. We flew into atl and we also flew the VOR approach into dnl. We talked about the approach and stepdowns, minimum altitude, missed approach, etc. We crossed the VOR at 3000 ft and I descended to 2100 ft, and at 5 NM from the VOR I started down to 1060 ft, the next stepdown on the approach. I had looked at the plain view on the chart and mistook the 5 NM fix for the next stepdown, the 10 NM fix actually is the next stepdown. At about 9 NM from the VOR, augusta approach called and told us we were showing 1100 ft and had not gotten to the 10 NM fix yet and should be at 2100 ft. We were in MVFR condition due to haze. I looked at the other pilot and he looked at me and I asked 'where did I screw up?' I did not have an approach plate on my yoke or lap like I normally do. Corrections to be made: 1) have the approach plate in plain view of me. 2) refuse trips if I haven't had the proper rest. Other pilots not the answer (sometimes hard to do -- company pressure). 3) challenge and confirm stepdowns, distances. This mistake would be deadly in mountains! 4) with the higher ceilings, I was thinking 'this will be an easy approach!' goes to prove always fly the approach!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PIPER PA31 PLT DSNDED BELOW AN APCH FIX DURING A VOR APCH RESULTING IN APCH CTLR INTERVENING AND ADVISING THEM OF THEIR LOW ALT.

Narrative: AFTER A LONG NIGHT OF WAITING ON A CHARTER FLT, I WAS ASKED TO FLY A TRIP FOR A CUSTOMER. I ASKED ANOTHER PLT TO RIDE ALONG TO HELP WATCH ME AND HELP WITH THE WORKLOAD. WE FLEW INTO ATL AND WE ALSO FLEW THE VOR APCH INTO DNL. WE TALKED ABOUT THE APCH AND STEPDOWNS, MINIMUM ALT, MISSED APCH, ETC. WE CROSSED THE VOR AT 3000 FT AND I DSNDED TO 2100 FT, AND AT 5 NM FROM THE VOR I STARTED DOWN TO 1060 FT, THE NEXT STEPDOWN ON THE APCH. I HAD LOOKED AT THE PLAIN VIEW ON THE CHART AND MISTOOK THE 5 NM FIX FOR THE NEXT STEPDOWN, THE 10 NM FIX ACTUALLY IS THE NEXT STEPDOWN. AT ABOUT 9 NM FROM THE VOR, AUGUSTA APCH CALLED AND TOLD US WE WERE SHOWING 1100 FT AND HAD NOT GOTTEN TO THE 10 NM FIX YET AND SHOULD BE AT 2100 FT. WE WERE IN MVFR CONDITION DUE TO HAZE. I LOOKED AT THE OTHER PLT AND HE LOOKED AT ME AND I ASKED 'WHERE DID I SCREW UP?' I DID NOT HAVE AN APCH PLATE ON MY YOKE OR LAP LIKE I NORMALLY DO. CORRECTIONS TO BE MADE: 1) HAVE THE APCH PLATE IN PLAIN VIEW OF ME. 2) REFUSE TRIPS IF I HAVEN'T HAD THE PROPER REST. OTHER PLTS NOT THE ANSWER (SOMETIMES HARD TO DO -- COMPANY PRESSURE). 3) CHALLENGE AND CONFIRM STEPDOWNS, DISTANCES. THIS MISTAKE WOULD BE DEADLY IN MOUNTAINS! 4) WITH THE HIGHER CEILINGS, I WAS THINKING 'THIS WILL BE AN EASY APCH!' GOES TO PROVE ALWAYS FLY THE APCH!

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.

Piper PA31 pilot descended below an approach fix during a VOR approach resulting in approach controller intervening and advising them of their low altitude.