Narrative:

The VOR approach was fist abandoned due to my error in programming the FMS. I was vectored back for another attempt. I set up for a 'raw data' approach. During the second attempt I configured the aircraft to early for landing (full flaps) so when I leveled off at the 'MDA' I had to add more power than normal. I then made the really stupid mistake, I left the instruments and began looking for the airport shortly after the aircraft settled below 'MDA' thus causing the tower to call a 'low altitude' alert. The two major errors, one, I failed to utilize the non flying pilot as an aid during the approach, so he was out of the loop of the whole approach process. The second and most serious (and stupid) was to stop flying by reference to instruments and fly visually when forward visibility was impaired by glare of the sun (low) broken cloud deck and mist. If I had just stayed on the instruments flown the approach as have done many times in the past this report would not have been made. Proper 'CRM' including a thorough approach brief of duties is a must. This flight departed van nuys, it is a 10 min flight, the work load for the npf is very high. Had I not been 'so familiar' with the processes I would have done a better brief. Trying to fly 'single pilot' was very stupid, but 'I knew' I could do it. I have never felt so unprofessional. My self confidence is shaken, but by reviewing the steps which lead to this had reinforced my determination to review and insure all crew members are on 'the same page.'

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A 'LTT' CREW, FLYING A VOR APCH TO KSMO, PREMATURELY DSNDED BELOW THE MDA, CAUSING A 'MSAW' TO BE ISSUED FROM TWR.

Narrative: THE VOR APCH WAS FIST ABANDONED DUE TO MY ERROR IN PROGRAMMING THE FMS. I WAS VECTORED BACK FOR ANOTHER ATTEMPT. I SET UP FOR A 'RAW DATA' APCH. DURING THE SECOND ATTEMPT I CONFIGURED THE ACFT TO EARLY FOR LNDG (FULL FLAPS) SO WHEN I LEVELED OFF AT THE 'MDA' I HAD TO ADD MORE PWR THAN NORMAL. I THEN MADE THE REALLY STUPID MISTAKE, I LEFT THE INSTS AND BEGAN LOOKING FOR THE ARPT SHORTLY AFTER THE ACFT SETTLED BELOW 'MDA' THUS CAUSING THE TWR TO CALL A 'LOW ALT' ALERT. THE TWO MAJOR ERRORS, ONE, I FAILED TO UTILIZE THE NON FLYING PLT AS AN AID DURING THE APCH, SO HE WAS OUT OF THE LOOP OF THE WHOLE APCH PROCESS. THE SECOND AND MOST SERIOUS (AND STUPID) WAS TO STOP FLYING BY REFERENCE TO INSTS AND FLY VISUALLY WHEN FORWARD VISIBILITY WAS IMPAIRED BY GLARE OF THE SUN (LOW) BROKEN CLOUD DECK AND MIST. IF I HAD JUST STAYED ON THE INSTS FLOWN THE APCH AS HAVE DONE MANY TIMES IN THE PAST THIS RPT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN MADE. PROPER 'CRM' INCLUDING A THOROUGH APCH BRIEF OF DUTIES IS A MUST. THIS FLT DEPARTED VAN NUYS, IT IS A 10 MIN FLT, THE WORK LOAD FOR THE NPF IS VERY HIGH. HAD I NOT BEEN 'SO FAMILIAR' WITH THE PROCESSES I WOULD HAVE DONE A BETTER BRIEF. TRYING TO FLY 'SINGLE PLT' WAS VERY STUPID, BUT 'I KNEW' I COULD DO IT. I HAVE NEVER FELT SO UNPROFESSIONAL. MY SELF CONFIDENCE IS SHAKEN, BUT BY REVIEWING THE STEPS WHICH LEAD TO THIS HAD REINFORCED MY DETERMINATION TO REVIEW AND INSURE ALL CREW MEMBERS ARE ON 'THE SAME PAGE.'

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.