PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga/6X
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 31; Flight Crew Total 1610; Flight Crew Type 1500
Situational Awareness
Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence; Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors; Weather
I was flying IFR to SBA. While initially told to expect a visual approach to SBA; a heavy rain shower developed and I was repeatedly vectored far to the south of course; and over the Pacific Ocean; for faster traffic following. I was then cleared for the VOR25 approach and vectored toward the course from a position far to the south over the ocean; and descended prematurely by several miles from 2;100 feet AGL. I should have realized that I was not yet at ZACKS; but I was still in the visual approach mindset; and descended where I would usually do so for the visual approach. I frequently fly the visual approach into SBA. I was given a low altitude alert; and climbed back to the minimum altitude before declaring the airport in sight and landing on a visual approach.When assigned the VOR approach; I should have gone completely into the full mental mode for that approach; despite the unusual entry procedure. I realize that delaying vectors save time in comparison to holding. Even when far over the ocean; it is necessary to observe the minimum altitudes for procedure.
PA32 pilot reported receiving a low altitude alert from ATC when he descended below charted altitude on an instrument approach to SBA.