Crj-700 flight crew descended from assigned altitude after misinterpreting ATC instruction; 'cleared...

Attributes
ACN	1029916
Time
Date	201208
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Regional Jet 700 ER/LR (CRJ700)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Not Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Total 19250
Person 2
Function	Pilot Flying First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Commercial
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Procedural Clearance

Narrative:

While on approach at 4;000 ft; we asked the approach controller if we were cleared to intercept the course. The controller then said you are cleared to intercept the approach to GPS 19. We thought he had cleared us for the approach and started a descent to 2;000 ft. Passing 3;300 ft the controller said; 'you're a little low; but now continue to 2;000 ft.' because of wind shear off the departure end of runway 19; we elected to use runway 10. The event happened because the controller kept us up high and we didn't want to be unstabilized on the approach. When the controller gave the clearance to intercept the approach we just misinterpreted it as 'cleared for the approach.' to avoid this in the future I think the controllers could descend us earlier to the initial approach altitude and at the first sign of wind shear on that particular runway send us to a different runway.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CRJ-700 flight crew descended from assigned altitude after misinterpreting ATC instruction; 'Cleared to intercept the approach' as clearance for the approach.

Narrative: While on approach at 4;000 FT; we asked the Approach Controller if we were cleared to intercept the course. The Controller then said you are cleared to intercept the approach to GPS 19. We thought he had cleared us for the approach and started a descent to 2;000 FT. Passing 3;300 FT the Controller said; 'You're a little low; but now continue to 2;000 FT.' Because of wind shear off the departure end of Runway 19; we elected to use Runway 10. The event happened because the Controller kept us up high and we didn't want to be unstabilized on the approach. When the Controller gave the clearance to intercept the approach we just misinterpreted it as 'cleared for the approach.' To avoid this in the future I think the controllers could descend us earlier to the initial approach altitude and at the first sign of wind shear on that particular runway send us to a different runway.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.

Crj-700 flight crew descended from assigned altitude after misinterpreting ATC instruction; 'cleared to intercept the approach' as clearance for the approach.