A crj PIC initiates an early descent on the VOR DME runway 24 approach to rsw, fl.

Attributes
ACN	571616
Time
Date	200301
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : rsw.vortac
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1300 msl bound upper : 1600
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : rsw.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Regional Jet CL65, Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Route In Use	approach : instrument non precision arrival : profile descent
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	571616
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 270 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 8000
ASRS Report	573210
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance non adherence : company policies
Independent Detector	atc equipment : msaw other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : returned to assigned altitude flight crew : became reoriented
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were assigned the VOR DME 24 approach to rsw, fort myers. We were cleared by approach control to descend to 1600 ft MSL and were vectored onto the inbound course of 244 degrees. Below approximately 2500 ft MSL, we were in VFR conditions with visibility of 3-5 mi. The approach calls for a descent to 660 ft MSL at 7 DME (morgn) from the rsw (lee county) VOR. The PF misunderstood the DME and began a descent to 700 ft (as was set in the altitude preselect for the flight director and autoplt) at 9 DME. The PNF was searching for the field out the window and did not immediately notice the error. The PNF noticed the error moments before the tower queried us about our altitude which indicated low, by that time 200-300 ft low. We could visually identify 2 or 3 towers at our 12 O'clock position and we agreed to stop the descent and climb above the towers before starting back down towards the airport, now visible. Better CRM would have helped with the PNF more closely watching the actions of the PF. Also, the PF announcing his intentions before carrying out the action would have helped prevent this problem. Supplemental information from acn 573210: misread descent point at morgn, on VOR, started down to approximately 1400 ft then started to correct at about the same time approach queried. We do several approachs a day, several days a week and several months a yr. It is imperative to remain vigilant.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CRJ PIC INITIATES AN EARLY DSCNT ON THE VOR DME RWY 24 APCH TO RSW, FL.

Narrative: WE WERE ASSIGNED THE VOR DME 24 APCH TO RSW, FORT MYERS. WE WERE CLRED BY APCH CTL TO DSND TO 1600 FT MSL AND WERE VECTORED ONTO THE INBOUND COURSE OF 244 DEGS. BELOW APPROX 2500 FT MSL, WE WERE IN VFR CONDITIONS WITH VISIBILITY OF 3-5 MI. THE APCH CALLS FOR A DSCNT TO 660 FT MSL AT 7 DME (MORGN) FROM THE RSW (LEE COUNTY) VOR. THE PF MISUNDERSTOOD THE DME AND BEGAN A DSCNT TO 700 FT (AS WAS SET IN THE ALT PRESELECT FOR THE FLT DIRECTOR AND AUTOPLT) AT 9 DME. THE PNF WAS SEARCHING FOR THE FIELD OUT THE WINDOW AND DID NOT IMMEDIATELY NOTICE THE ERROR. THE PNF NOTICED THE ERROR MOMENTS BEFORE THE TWR QUERIED US ABOUT OUR ALT WHICH INDICATED LOW, BY THAT TIME 200-300 FT LOW. WE COULD VISUALLY IDENT 2 OR 3 TWRS AT OUR 12 O'CLOCK POS AND WE AGREED TO STOP THE DSCNT AND CLB ABOVE THE TWRS BEFORE STARTING BACK DOWN TOWARDS THE ARPT, NOW VISIBLE. BETTER CRM WOULD HAVE HELPED WITH THE PNF MORE CLOSELY WATCHING THE ACTIONS OF THE PF. ALSO, THE PF ANNOUNCING HIS INTENTIONS BEFORE CARRYING OUT THE ACTION WOULD HAVE HELPED PREVENT THIS PROB. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 573210: MISREAD DSCNT POINT AT MORGN, ON VOR, STARTED DOWN TO APPROX 1400 FT THEN STARTED TO CORRECT AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME APCH QUERIED. WE DO SEVERAL APCHS A DAY, SEVERAL DAYS A WK AND SEVERAL MONTHS A YR. IT IS IMPERATIVE TO REMAIN VIGILANT.

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.