GA small transport received low altitude alert from bur approach controller while on ILS approach to...

Attributes
ACN	91619
Time
Date	198808
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : vny
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3300 msl bound upper : 4200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bur
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 2000 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	91619
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : nmac non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

The aircraft was on an IFR flight plan from ksmx to kvny. All operations entirely normal until just before bur approach hand-off to van nuys tower. Was established on van nuys localizer in VFR conditions (kvny was reporting 7 mi visibility) literally fixated on the new moving map display just installed...when bur noted a low altitude alert...at this time was just inside the outer marker and should have been at about 4200', was at 3300' with the field in sight. Had 1800' terrain clearance according to the radar altimeter, but was clearly below the G/south. It is extremely tempting to stare at the moving map...but there's no vertical guidance!! Obviously, diligence (or a copilot) is required. This time, no harm done. At night or in the clouds, the story could be different.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMT RECEIVED LOW ALT ALERT FROM BUR APCH CTLR WHILE ON ILS APCH TO VNY.

Narrative: THE ACFT WAS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN FROM KSMX TO KVNY. ALL OPS ENTIRELY NORMAL UNTIL JUST BEFORE BUR APCH HAND-OFF TO VAN NUYS TWR. WAS ESTABLISHED ON VAN NUYS LOC IN VFR CONDITIONS (KVNY WAS RPTING 7 MI VISIBILITY) LITERALLY FIXATED ON THE NEW MOVING MAP DISPLAY JUST INSTALLED...WHEN BUR NOTED A LOW ALT ALERT...AT THIS TIME WAS JUST INSIDE THE OUTER MARKER AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT ABOUT 4200', WAS AT 3300' WITH THE FIELD IN SIGHT. HAD 1800' TERRAIN CLRNC ACCORDING TO THE RADAR ALTIMETER, BUT WAS CLEARLY BELOW THE G/S. IT IS EXTREMELY TEMPTING TO STARE AT THE MOVING MAP...BUT THERE'S NO VERTICAL GUIDANCE!! OBVIOUSLY, DILIGENCE (OR A COPLT) IS REQUIRED. THIS TIME, NO HARM DONE. AT NIGHT OR IN THE CLOUDS, THE STORY COULD BE DIFFERENT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.

GA small transport received low altitude alert from bur approach controller while on ILS approach to vny.