A BE200 part 135 flight descends prematurely on the localizer approach to runway 22 at cdw.

Attributes
ACN	528419
Time
Date	200110
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : snafu
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1800 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon tower : cdw.tower
Operator	common carrier : charter
Make Model Name	Super King Air 200 HDC
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Navigation In Use	ils localizer only : 22
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : instrument non precision arrival : profile descent
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : charter
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 95 flight time total : 2570 flight time type : 330
ASRS Report	528419
Person 2
Affiliation	company : charter
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory none taken : detected after the fact none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company Environmental Factor Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was on a flight to caldwell, nj (cdw). Although I was PIC on the flight, I was actually in the right seat as PNF. Entire flight was in VMC, however, the flight was conducted on an IFR flight plan. The flight was uneventful until the approach segment. Ny approach directed me to contact caldwell tower and that I was cleared for the localizer runway 22 approach. The PF asked if I was over 'snafu,' the OM. I said he was, and he started to descend to the step-down elevation. As we descended, I told him to stop his descent at approximately 1800 ft MSL. I reported OM to tower and they said we were 1.8 NM from such. We continued to runway on the localizer and landed without incident. Tower made no mention of the premature descent. I was sick from the previous day and had no sleep the night before. I was scared to lose my job, from previous threats and made the flight. In retrospect, I should never have flown, and never will again when sick.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BE200 PART 135 FLT DSNDS PREMATURELY ON THE LOC APCH TO RWY 22 AT CDW.

Narrative: I WAS ON A FLT TO CALDWELL, NJ (CDW). ALTHOUGH I WAS PIC ON THE FLT, I WAS ACTUALLY IN THE R SEAT AS PNF. ENTIRE FLT WAS IN VMC, HOWEVER, THE FLT WAS CONDUCTED ON AN IFR FLT PLAN. THE FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL UNTIL THE APCH SEGMENT. NY APCH DIRECTED ME TO CONTACT CALDWELL TWR AND THAT I WAS CLRED FOR THE LOC RWY 22 APCH. THE PF ASKED IF I WAS OVER 'SNAFU,' THE OM. I SAID HE WAS, AND HE STARTED TO DSND TO THE STEP-DOWN ELEVATION. AS WE DSNDED, I TOLD HIM TO STOP HIS DSCNT AT APPROX 1800 FT MSL. I RPTED OM TO TWR AND THEY SAID WE WERE 1.8 NM FROM SUCH. WE CONTINUED TO RWY ON THE LOC AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. TWR MADE NO MENTION OF THE PREMATURE DSCNT. I WAS SICK FROM THE PREVIOUS DAY AND HAD NO SLEEP THE NIGHT BEFORE. I WAS SCARED TO LOSE MY JOB, FROM PREVIOUS THREATS AND MADE THE FLT. IN RETROSPECT, I SHOULD NEVER HAVE FLOWN, AND NEVER WILL AGAIN WHEN SICK.

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.