A GLF5 crew, on a non precision approach to teb, descended prematurely to the final fix altitude.

Attributes
ACN	534796
Time
Date	200201
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : teb.vor
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Gulfstream V
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : instrument non precision
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 13500 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	534796
Person 2
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance Airport
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While on an approach (VOR DME a) at teterboro, nj, I stepped down to an intermediate altitude too soon. Reasons: 1) vectored for intercept inside initial fix. This prevented the use VNAV initially as planned. Had to use vertical navigation instead. 2000 ft was set in altitude pre-select for the approach. Inattention allowed the aircraft to descend through 2500 ft to 2000 ft. 2) poor first officer backup. 3) broke sterile cockpit to point out a 'very close' newark traffic above us to passenger on jump seat during the approach. Probably the biggest contributing factor. As far as I know there was no conflict of any sort. Lesson learned: stick to the sterile cockpit brief! I have had smooth sailing for some time now. This served me well as a wake-up call to maintain professionalism!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A GLF5 CREW, ON A NON PRECISION APCH TO TEB, DSNDED PREMATURELY TO THE FINAL FIX ALT.

Narrative: WHILE ON AN APCH (VOR DME A) AT TETERBORO, NJ, I STEPPED DOWN TO AN INTERMEDIATE ALT TOO SOON. REASONS: 1) VECTORED FOR INTERCEPT INSIDE INITIAL FIX. THIS PREVENTED THE USE VNAV INITIALLY AS PLANNED. HAD TO USE VERT NAV INSTEAD. 2000 FT WAS SET IN ALT PRE-SELECT FOR THE APCH. INATTENTION ALLOWED THE ACFT TO DSND THROUGH 2500 FT TO 2000 FT. 2) POOR FO BACKUP. 3) BROKE STERILE COCKPIT TO POINT OUT A 'VERY CLOSE' NEWARK TFC ABOVE US TO PAX ON JUMP SEAT DURING THE APCH. PROBABLY THE BIGGEST CONTRIBUTING FACTOR. AS FAR AS I KNOW THERE WAS NO CONFLICT OF ANY SORT. LESSON LEARNED: STICK TO THE STERILE COCKPIT BRIEF! I HAVE HAD SMOOTH SAILING FOR SOME TIME NOW. THIS SERVED ME WELL AS A WAKE-UP CALL TO MAINTAIN PROFESSIONALISM!

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.