A C182 pilot, on approach to mwc, prematurely descended below the MDA.

Attributes
ACN	532956
Time
Date	200112
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mwc.airport
State Reference	WI
Altitude	agl single value : 400
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : mwc.tower tower : lax.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 1140 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	532956
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	controller : local
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	atc equipment : msaw atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was on final approach for the localizer runway 15 at mwc. The ATIS, which was about 30 mins old, said that the conditions were 700 ft, 2 mi. The minimums for the approach are 400 ft, 1 mi. As I reached the MDA, about 1 1/2 - 2 mi from the VOR, I had good ground contact, but had some trouble finding the airport. While searching for the field, I must have drifted a few ft below the minimum for the approach, because the tower gave me a low altitude alert. I added power, and found the airport a few seconds later. The flight ended without incident. Apparently, the WX deteriorated between the time the ATIS was recorded and my approach. The tower never advised me that the ceilings were lower than 700 ft. Next time, I will watch the altimeter while I look for the airport.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C182 PLT, ON APCH TO MWC, PREMATURELY DSNDED BELOW THE MDA.

Narrative: I WAS ON FINAL APCH FOR THE LOC RWY 15 AT MWC. THE ATIS, WHICH WAS ABOUT 30 MINS OLD, SAID THAT THE CONDITIONS WERE 700 FT, 2 MI. THE MINIMUMS FOR THE APCH ARE 400 FT, 1 MI. AS I REACHED THE MDA, ABOUT 1 1/2 - 2 MI FROM THE VOR, I HAD GOOD GND CONTACT, BUT HAD SOME TROUBLE FINDING THE ARPT. WHILE SEARCHING FOR THE FIELD, I MUST HAVE DRIFTED A FEW FT BELOW THE MINIMUM FOR THE APCH, BECAUSE THE TWR GAVE ME A LOW ALT ALERT. I ADDED PWR, AND FOUND THE ARPT A FEW SECONDS LATER. THE FLT ENDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. APPARENTLY, THE WX DETERIORATED BTWN THE TIME THE ATIS WAS RECORDED AND MY APCH. THE TWR NEVER ADVISED ME THAT THE CEILINGS WERE LOWER THAN 700 FT. NEXT TIME, I WILL WATCH THE ALTIMETER WHILE I LOOK FOR THE ARPT.

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.