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A B737 PIC starts a premature descent prior to coram intersection on the runway 24 ILS approach passing CCC, ny.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 536214 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200201 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| State Reference | NY |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 2000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Weather Elements | Ice Turbulence |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : n90.tracon |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B737-700 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | ils localizer only : 24 other other vortac |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 260 flight time total : 14090 flight time type : 10000 |
| ASRS Report | 536214 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 2000 |
| ASRS Report | 536216 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : company policies non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued advisory flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : returned to original clearance flight crew : returned to assigned altitude |
| Consequence | faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
After passing over calverton VOR (CCC) on the ILS runway 24 at isp I looked down at the profile view and mistook the coram intersection depicted for calverton VOR and initiated a descent from 2000 ft to 1500 ft (I was flying). The first officer did not see me initiate the descent. After leveling off he noticed it and told me we were not past coram and we should still be at 2000 ft. I immediately initiated a climb to 2000 ft. At the same time approach control told us we should still be at 2000 ft. We had been cleared for the approach approaching calverton VOR. We have a complacent way of doing approachs here at company. Normally the PNF sets the next altitude in the window, but when we start the approach the PF starts doing it even when the PNF isn't looking. That contributed. Also the approach plate is confusing. With CCC in the plan view but not in the profile view, I don't know if that can be fixed or not. Supplemental information from acn 536216: passing calverton (CCC) ny approach cleared us for the approach, ILS runway 24. I looked down to check the radial, dialed the course into the course selection window on the msp (271 degrees) and then set up the next frequency on VHF #1 (long island tower). When I returned my attention to the performance instruments I noticed we were descending past 1700 ft. I immediately checked the altitude window on the msp and saw 1500 ft. I didn't think we were supposed to descend to 1500 ft until coram about 4 mi away. The fom states the PNF should make all changes to the altitude selected on the msp. However, many company pilots dial up their own altitudes when on the approach, arrs into las, lax especially come to mind.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A B737 PIC STARTS A PREMATURE DSCNT PRIOR TO CORAM INTXN ON THE RWY 24 ILS APCH PASSING CCC, NY.
Narrative: AFTER PASSING OVER CALVERTON VOR (CCC) ON THE ILS RWY 24 AT ISP I LOOKED DOWN AT THE PROFILE VIEW AND MISTOOK THE CORAM INTXN DEPICTED FOR CALVERTON VOR AND INITIATED A DSCNT FROM 2000 FT TO 1500 FT (I WAS FLYING). THE FO DID NOT SEE ME INITIATE THE DSCNT. AFTER LEVELING OFF HE NOTICED IT AND TOLD ME WE WERE NOT PAST CORAM AND WE SHOULD STILL BE AT 2000 FT. I IMMEDIATELY INITIATED A CLB TO 2000 FT. AT THE SAME TIME APCH CTL TOLD US WE SHOULD STILL BE AT 2000 FT. WE HAD BEEN CLRED FOR THE APCH APCHING CALVERTON VOR. WE HAVE A COMPLACENT WAY OF DOING APCHS HERE AT COMPANY. NORMALLY THE PNF SETS THE NEXT ALT IN THE WINDOW, BUT WHEN WE START THE APCH THE PF STARTS DOING IT EVEN WHEN THE PNF ISN'T LOOKING. THAT CONTRIBUTED. ALSO THE APCH PLATE IS CONFUSING. WITH CCC IN THE PLAN VIEW BUT NOT IN THE PROFILE VIEW, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT CAN BE FIXED OR NOT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 536216: PASSING CALVERTON (CCC) NY APCH CLRED US FOR THE APCH, ILS RWY 24. I LOOKED DOWN TO CHK THE RADIAL, DIALED THE COURSE INTO THE COURSE SELECTION WINDOW ON THE MSP (271 DEGS) AND THEN SET UP THE NEXT FREQ ON VHF #1 (LONG ISLAND TWR). WHEN I RETURNED MY ATTN TO THE PERFORMANCE INSTS I NOTICED WE WERE DSNDING PAST 1700 FT. I IMMEDIATELY CHKED THE ALT WINDOW ON THE MSP AND SAW 1500 FT. I DIDN'T THINK WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DSND TO 1500 FT UNTIL CORAM ABOUT 4 MI AWAY. THE FOM STATES THE PNF SHOULD MAKE ALL CHANGES TO THE ALT SELECTED ON THE MSP. HOWEVER, MANY COMPANY PLTS DIAL UP THEIR OWN ALTS WHEN ON THE APCH, ARRS INTO LAS, LAX ESPECIALLY COME TO MIND.
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.