PA28 pilot reports descending below an initial approach segment altitude during the VOR runway 23 ap...

Attributes
ACN	892047
Time
Date	201006
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	X60.Airport
State Reference	FL
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	GPS & Other Satellite Navigation
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 43 Flight Crew Total 694 Flight Crew Type 500
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Narrative:

Departed gnv runway 25 and contacted jax approach to execute VOR 23 approach into X60 using gnv as IAF. Jax cleared us to 3;000 ft. Initial approach fix (nosjy) was misinterpreted as final approach fix (ucafo). The leg between fixes has a minimum altitude of 1;700 ft. A decent to about 1;000 ft was made before the error was detected. While the terrain is mostly flat and we had broken out and were VMC; it turns out that there is a very tall tower (1;000 ft) just off to the left of the approach course. This tower; while identified on the jax sectional; is not shown on the approach plate. While we were never in danger because we were in VMC; this error could be fatal during hard IMC. At the very least; this tower should be identified on the X60 VOR 23 approach plate. Associated factor in this case was auto scaling of small varmint 430W screen that did not show both fixes at once; leading to an erroneous level of confidence from poor situational awareness.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28 pilot reports descending below an initial approach segment altitude during the VOR Runway 23 approach to X60. This was due to lack of familiarity and the auto scaling of his Garmin 430w and its small display.

Narrative: Departed GNV Runway 25 and contacted JAX approach to execute VOR 23 approach into X60 using GNV as IAF. JAX cleared us to 3;000 FT. Initial approach fix (NOSJY) was misinterpreted as final approach fix (UCAFO). The leg between fixes has a minimum altitude of 1;700 FT. A decent to about 1;000 FT was made before the error was detected. While the terrain is mostly flat and we had broken out and were VMC; it turns out that there is a very tall tower (1;000 FT) just off to the left of the approach course. This tower; while identified on the JAX sectional; is not shown on the approach plate. While we were never in danger because we were in VMC; this error could be fatal during hard IMC. At the very least; this tower should be identified on the X60 VOR 23 approach plate. Associated factor in this case was auto scaling of small Varmint 430W screen that did not show both fixes at once; leading to an erroneous level of confidence from poor situational awareness.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

PA28 pilot reports descending below an initial approach segment altitude during the VOR runway 23 approach to X60. This was due to lack of familiarity and the auto scaling of his garmin 430w and its small display.