C172 pilot reports descending below the MDA prior to the vdp during a practice localizer approach. B...

Narrative:

I was practicing approaches (localizer) on runway 15 in kissimmee. After reading my FAF; I was descending to my da. But when I was about 3 NM from the runway; my safety pilot on board advised me that I was too low and he could see all 4 red lights in PAPI. Meanwhile we got a call from tower saying we were too low and to check our altitude. I realized my mistake and executed a missed approach which was in my mind as I requested orl approach for ILS followed by localizer and then full stops in ism. I learned my mistake of focusing too hard on instruments on final and I assure I'll not make the same mistake again.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 pilot reports descending below the MDA prior to the VDP during a practice LOC approach. Both the safety pilot on board and the Tower Controller issued warnings to the reporter. A go around is initiated.

Narrative: I was practicing approaches (LOC) on Runway 15 in Kissimmee. After reading my FAF; I was descending to my DA. But when I was about 3 NM from the runway; my safety pilot on board advised me that I was too low and he could see all 4 red lights in PAPI. Meanwhile we got a call from Tower saying we were too low and to check our altitude. I realized my mistake and executed a missed approach which was in my mind as I requested ORL Approach for ILS followed by LOC and then full stops in ISM. I learned my mistake of focusing too hard on instruments on final and I assure I'll not make the same mistake again.

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.

Attributes
ACN	981942
Time
Date	201111
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ISM.Airport
State Reference	FL
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 35 Flight Crew Total 160 Flight Crew Type 35
Events
Anomaly	Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT

C172 pilot reports descending below the MDA prior to the vdp during a practice localizer approach. Both the safety pilot on board and the tower controller issued warnings to the reporter. A go around is initiated.