PA32 descends below FAF altitude during intermediate leg of GPS runway 20 approach to ahq.

Attributes
ACN	678235
Time
Date	200511
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ahq.airport
State Reference	NE
Altitude	msl single value : 2600
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Turbulence
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 45.9 flight time total : 535 flight time type : 402
ASRS Report	678235
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : turbulence non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Cleared for approach GPS runway 20 at ahq. Flew below FAF altitude approximately 300 ft; 2 NM before FAF. Cause: not properly monitoring FAF. Prevention: better monitoring of chart; especially FAF in this case. Conditions: IMC light turbulence. Not using autoplt due to turbulence. How problem arose: not paying attention to FAF. Factors: light turbulence. Discovery: scanning chart. Corrective action: climb to minimums.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA32 DSNDS BELOW FAF ALT DURING INTERMEDIATE LEG OF GPS RWY 20 APCH TO AHQ.

Narrative: CLRED FOR APCH GPS RWY 20 AT AHQ. FLEW BELOW FAF ALT APPROX 300 FT; 2 NM BEFORE FAF. CAUSE: NOT PROPERLY MONITORING FAF. PREVENTION: BETTER MONITORING OF CHART; ESPECIALLY FAF IN THIS CASE. CONDITIONS: IMC LIGHT TURB. NOT USING AUTOPLT DUE TO TURB. HOW PROB AROSE: NOT PAYING ATTN TO FAF. FACTORS: LIGHT TURB. DISCOVERY: SCANNING CHART. CORRECTIVE ACTION: CLB TO MINIMUMS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.