Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20; Flight Crew Total 9000; Flight Crew Type 35
Situational Awareness; Confusion
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors
During GPS 24 practice approach the flying pilot lost situational awareness and started to descend rapidly thinking he was at the descent point. At first I thought he had a change of plan and was planning to land at a nearby airport. After a confusing conversation with ATC I realized he did not know where he was. At that point I took control of the aircraft and started a climb. Due to the confusion in the cockpit and windshear we got lower than I liked; about 500 FT AGL. A more complete briefing on the approach could have prevented this.
Instructor pilot; flying as a safety pilot in a BE55; describes a loss of situational awareness by the pilot flying and an attempt to descend to minimums early. The reporter assumes control and returns to a safe altitude.