A lear 31 PIC descends too early on the VOR runway 35R approach to pwa, ok.

Attributes
ACN	537519
Time
Date	200202
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
State Reference	OK
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1680 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : okc.tracon tower : stl.tower
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Learjet 31
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
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 : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 290
ASRS Report	537519
Person 2
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	atc equipment : msaw other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : exited adverse environment other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

New copilot. First time copilot flew with captain. Aircraft was cleared for the VOR runway 35 approach at pwa. ATC cleared us to 'maintain 4000 ft until established on the 350 degree radial, cleared for approach.' copilot set MDA 1800 ft for the approach. Captain captured the radial and started a descent. Captain misread FMS and descended to 1800 ft. Captain did not level off and maintain 3000 ft until dickh intersection as approach required. Aircraft descended to 1680 ft, 1/2 mi from dickh intersection into VFR conditions. Approach issued an altitude alert. Captain climbed back to 1780 ft and completed the approach without incident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A LEAR 31 PIC DSNDS TOO EARLY ON THE VOR RWY 35R APCH TO PWA, OK.

Narrative: NEW COPLT. FIRST TIME COPLT FLEW WITH CAPT. ACFT WAS CLRED FOR THE VOR RWY 35 APCH AT PWA. ATC CLRED US TO 'MAINTAIN 4000 FT UNTIL ESTABLISHED ON THE 350 DEG RADIAL, CLRED FOR APCH.' COPLT SET MDA 1800 FT FOR THE APCH. CAPT CAPTURED THE RADIAL AND STARTED A DSCNT. CAPT MISREAD FMS AND DSNDED TO 1800 FT. CAPT DID NOT LEVEL OFF AND MAINTAIN 3000 FT UNTIL DICKH INTXN AS APCH REQUIRED. ACFT DSNDED TO 1680 FT, 1/2 MI FROM DICKH INTXN INTO VFR CONDITIONS. APCH ISSUED AN ALT ALERT. CAPT CLBED BACK TO 1780 FT AND COMPLETED THE APCH WITHOUT INCIDENT.

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.