A flight crew tunes in wrong VOR resulting in an early descent.

Attributes
ACN	520680
Time
Date	200107
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dtw.airport
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	520680
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

On ILS runway 21L approach into dtw, we were advised to maintain 5000 ft until established, cleared ILS runway 21L. The DME to dxo (detroit) was inadvertently put in instead of crl (carlton). We left too early and descended to 4000 ft to what we thought was balas, but the DME was wrong. We leveled at 4000 ft and we corrected the DME to crl VOR. Approach never advised us of any deviation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A FLT CREW TUNES IN WRONG VOR RESULTING IN AN EARLY DSCNT.

Narrative: ON ILS RWY 21L APCH INTO DTW, WE WERE ADVISED TO MAINTAIN 5000 FT UNTIL ESTABLISHED, CLRED ILS RWY 21L. THE DME TO DXO (DETROIT) WAS INADVERTENTLY PUT IN INSTEAD OF CRL (CARLTON). WE LEFT TOO EARLY AND DSNDED TO 4000 FT TO WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS BALAS, BUT THE DME WAS WRONG. WE LEVELED AT 4000 FT AND WE CORRECTED THE DME TO CRL VOR. APCH NEVER ADVISED US OF ANY DEV.

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.