Small Aircraft; High Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 10.4; Flight Crew Total 489; Flight Crew Type 182
Confusion; Distraction; Workload
Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors; Weather
I was approaching during daylight on an IFR flight plan. The ceiling was reported at 1;200 FT with tops at 3;500 FT and I was expecting the ILS Runway 17. While descending to 2;000 FT through the clouds and finishing my approach set up on the avionics; Dallas Approach instructed me to maintain 2;000 FT; vectored me to the localizer; and then told me to join the localizer for the ILS Runway 17. Then Approach told me to report visual of the runway. At this point I had conflicting information from my primary and secondary NAV; a Garmin 430 WAAS and a localizer with glideslope. Believing that I was on a full ILS approach; I had descended to 1;200 FT where the ceiling allowed only partial views of the ground. Approach issued a low terrain warning; instruction to return to 2;000 FT and vectors back to the IAF for a full ILS approach. I saw that my primary NAV had not been set to make the correct frequency active; so I corrected that and then the approach and landing with no further problems. This was my first landing at Mesquite; Texas; and while I was distracted by trying to see the runway; I forgot one step in the approach setup. From now on when I arrive at a new field with ceilings less than 2;000 FT; I will request a full instrument approach.
A pilot approaching HQZ was issued a low altitude alert after descending to 1;200 FT from the assigned 2;000 FT with an incorrect ILS frequency selected.