An M20 pilot on an ILS in IMC was cleared for the approach but became disoriented before the final a...

Attributes
ACN	982543
Time
Date	201112
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	M-20 A Scotsman
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Instrument
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 105 Flight Crew Total 780 Flight Crew Type 450
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Altitude Crossing Restriction Not Met Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Procedural Clearance Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT

Narrative:

The controller cleared me for the ILS runway 14 approach and instructed me to maintain 2;100 ft until established on the localizer. Relying upon my glideslope indicator; which had not yet become effective; I descended to 1;200 ft. At this point I was 5.5 miles from the airport; the approximate location of the final approach fix intersection. When I was switched to tower I had been instructed to report the FAF. The tower controller called my attention to my altitude and reminded me that I should remain at 2;100 ft until reaching the FAF. I mistakenly told him that I was a half mile from the FAF. The tower controller called me again at the approximate location of an intersection prior to the FAF and asked me for my position.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An M20 pilot on an ILS in IMC was cleared for the approach but became disoriented before the final approach fix and descended to 1;200 FT when told to maintain 2;100 FT.

Narrative: The Controller cleared me for the ILS Runway 14 approach and instructed me to maintain 2;100 FT until established on the localizer. Relying upon my glideslope indicator; which had not yet become effective; I descended to 1;200 FT. At this point I was 5.5 miles from the airport; the approximate location of the final approach fix intersection. When I was switched to Tower I had been instructed to report the FAF. The Tower Controller called my attention to my altitude and reminded me that I should remain at 2;100 FT until reaching the FAF. I mistakenly told him that I was a half mile from the FAF. The Tower Controller called me again at the approximate location of an intersection prior to the FAF and asked me for my position.

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.

An M20 pilot on an ILS in IMC was cleared for the approach but became disoriented before the final approach fix and descended to 1;200 ft when told to maintain 2;100 ft.