B727 flight crew on approach to mem executes ILS runway 36L approach procedure without required DME.

Attributes
ACN	621564
Time
Date	200406
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mem.airport
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl single value : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mem.tracon tower : mem.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : 36l
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 10100 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	621564
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While executing the ILS runway 36L approach to the memphis international airport, we noticed we weren't receiving DME information as required for the approach. We questioned the approach controller and were informed he could not verify the DME status, but had received an earlier report of the DME not working. We stated that it was our understanding that the DME was required as noted on the approach plate. The controller's response was that it was only required for simultaneous approachs. In retrospect due to the fact that there isn't any conditional wording on the approach plate stating that, I believe we may have been in violation executing the approach and should not have accepted the approach clearance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727 FLT CREW ON APCH TO MEM EXECUTES ILS RWY 36L APCH PROC WITHOUT REQUIRED DME.

Narrative: WHILE EXECUTING THE ILS RWY 36L APCH TO THE MEMPHIS INTL ARPT, WE NOTICED WE WEREN'T RECEIVING DME INFO AS REQUIRED FOR THE APCH. WE QUESTIONED THE APCH CTLR AND WERE INFORMED HE COULD NOT VERIFY THE DME STATUS, BUT HAD RECEIVED AN EARLIER RPT OF THE DME NOT WORKING. WE STATED THAT IT WAS OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THE DME WAS REQUIRED AS NOTED ON THE APCH PLATE. THE CTLR'S RESPONSE WAS THAT IT WAS ONLY REQUIRED FOR SIMULTANEOUS APCHS. IN RETROSPECT DUE TO THE FACT THAT THERE ISN'T ANY CONDITIONAL WORDING ON THE APCH PLATE STATING THAT, I BELIEVE WE MAY HAVE BEEN IN VIOLATION EXECUTING THE APCH AND SHOULD NOT HAVE ACCEPTED THE APCH CLRNC.

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.