While descending for an approach into fat, pilot set the autoplt incorrectly and failed to capture t...

Attributes
ACN	568436
Time
Date	200212
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : fat.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 800
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : fat.tracon tower : fat.tower artcc : zla.artcc
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	PC-12
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : 29r
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : instrument precision
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 1044 flight time type : 135
ASRS Report	568436
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	atc equipment : msaw atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I was descending on the ILS runway 29R and noticed that I had descended well below published GS. I think the problem was caused by not activating the approach phase on the autoplt. I believe that I depressed the 'navigation' button rather than the 'approach' button on the autoplt mode controller. The autoplt flew the localizer, but not the GS. I had dialed in 600 ft on the altitude controller as a reminder of my decision ht (533 ft). The autoplt was trying to fly down to 600 ft. An altitude alert was provided by the controller. I told him we would need to try again just as the airport came into view. We were VMC at all times above the fog layer. The main cause of the problem was due to incorrect use of the autoplt compounded by not maintaining situational awareness. I believe that my complacency was influenced by not flying in IMC and remembering to monitor the autoplt constantly.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WHILE DSNDING FOR AN APCH INTO FAT, PLT SET THE AUTOPLT INCORRECTLY AND FAILED TO CAPTURE THE GS.

Narrative: I WAS DSNDING ON THE ILS RWY 29R AND NOTICED THAT I HAD DSNDED WELL BELOW PUBLISHED GS. I THINK THE PROB WAS CAUSED BY NOT ACTIVATING THE APCH PHASE ON THE AUTOPLT. I BELIEVE THAT I DEPRESSED THE 'NAV' BUTTON RATHER THAN THE 'APCH' BUTTON ON THE AUTOPLT MODE CONTROLLER. THE AUTOPLT FLEW THE LOC, BUT NOT THE GS. I HAD DIALED IN 600 FT ON THE ALT CONTROLLER AS A REMINDER OF MY DECISION HT (533 FT). THE AUTOPLT WAS TRYING TO FLY DOWN TO 600 FT. AN ALT ALERT WAS PROVIDED BY THE CTLR. I TOLD HIM WE WOULD NEED TO TRY AGAIN JUST AS THE ARPT CAME INTO VIEW. WE WERE VMC AT ALL TIMES ABOVE THE FOG LAYER. THE MAIN CAUSE OF THE PROB WAS DUE TO INCORRECT USE OF THE AUTOPLT COMPOUNDED BY NOT MAINTAINING SITUATIONAL AWARENESS. I BELIEVE THAT MY COMPLACENCY WAS INFLUENCED BY NOT FLYING IN IMC AND REMEMBERING TO MONITOR THE AUTOPLT CONSTANTLY.

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.

While descending for an approach into fat, pilot set the autoplt incorrectly and failed to capture the GS.