Narrative:

I was cleared for a VOR approach to runway 23 at fwa. Vectors were provided for the intercept and the autoplt captured the course without incident. Approach plate was given a cursory review and the autoplt preselect set incorrectly to the MDA altitude of 1300 ft MSL (1260 ft MSL). Approach continued without incident until tower advised a 'low-altitude alert.' altimeter setting was verified and altitude was verified. Shortly thereafter, tower advised that 1520 ft MSL was the proper altitude 'til the FAF, however the controller said that 'I'm sure there are no towers out there.' approach had reached FAF at that point and the approach continued until a missed approach was called due to deteriorating WX. No other statements from tower were received. Flight was conducted as a demonstration flight to a perspective buyer. Buyer was familiar and home-based at fwa, yet I did not engage his services during the approach (ie, reviewing the plate with me, calling out altitudes for me, etc). Because I had quickly looked over the profile view of the plate, I did not correctly identify the proper altitude of the FAF and had instead idented and descended to the MDA upon intercept of the final approach course. As a cfii, I know, and should have known, the importance of proper plate review. Furthermore, I did not use all my 'cockpit resources' during the approach. A more careful review of the plate, along with a review of the plate with another pilot when on board, would have prevented the accidental early descent. This is how CFIT happens and I got a good taste of how improper and rushed approach preparation can affect the safety of a flight.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF TBM7 ON VOR RWY 23 APCH TO FWA DSNDS TO MDA VICE FINAL APCH FIX ALT PRIOR TO FAF.

Narrative: I WAS CLRED FOR A VOR APCH TO RWY 23 AT FWA. VECTORS WERE PROVIDED FOR THE INTERCEPT AND THE AUTOPLT CAPTURED THE COURSE WITHOUT INCIDENT. APCH PLATE WAS GIVEN A CURSORY REVIEW AND THE AUTOPLT PRESELECT SET INCORRECTLY TO THE MDA ALT OF 1300 FT MSL (1260 FT MSL). APCH CONTINUED WITHOUT INCIDENT UNTIL TWR ADVISED A 'LOW-ALT ALERT.' ALTIMETER SETTING WAS VERIFIED AND ALT WAS VERIFIED. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, TWR ADVISED THAT 1520 FT MSL WAS THE PROPER ALT 'TIL THE FAF, HOWEVER THE CTLR SAID THAT 'I'M SURE THERE ARE NO TWRS OUT THERE.' APCH HAD REACHED FAF AT THAT POINT AND THE APCH CONTINUED UNTIL A MISSED APCH WAS CALLED DUE TO DETERIORATING WX. NO OTHER STATEMENTS FROM TWR WERE RECEIVED. FLT WAS CONDUCTED AS A DEMONSTRATION FLT TO A PERSPECTIVE BUYER. BUYER WAS FAMILIAR AND HOME-BASED AT FWA, YET I DID NOT ENGAGE HIS SVCS DURING THE APCH (IE, REVIEWING THE PLATE WITH ME, CALLING OUT ALTS FOR ME, ETC). BECAUSE I HAD QUICKLY LOOKED OVER THE PROFILE VIEW OF THE PLATE, I DID NOT CORRECTLY IDENT THE PROPER ALT OF THE FAF AND HAD INSTEAD IDENTED AND DSNDED TO THE MDA UPON INTERCEPT OF THE FINAL APCH COURSE. AS A CFII, I KNOW, AND SHOULD HAVE KNOWN, THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER PLATE REVIEW. FURTHERMORE, I DID NOT USE ALL MY 'COCKPIT RESOURCES' DURING THE APCH. A MORE CAREFUL REVIEW OF THE PLATE, ALONG WITH A REVIEW OF THE PLATE WITH ANOTHER PLT WHEN ON BOARD, WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE ACCIDENTAL EARLY DSCNT. THIS IS HOW CFIT HAPPENS AND I GOT A GOOD TASTE OF HOW IMPROPER AND RUSHED APCH PREPARATION CAN AFFECT THE SAFETY OF A FLT.

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.