An air carrier flight crew assigned 3;100 ft on a vector to sps runway 33L ILS began a descent to 2;...

Narrative:

We were diverting to sps after our destination closed due to weather. ATC instructed us to proceed direct to sps and we advised ATC we were planning on executing the ILS to runway 33L. As we got approximately 30 miles away we were cleared direct to the final approach fix atrll for the ILS. The controller cleared us to 3;100 ft; and cleared us for the ILS; but the glideslope intercept at atrll is 2;300 ft. We concluded that he must expect us to do the full procedure. As we approached atrll the controller asked if we were established; the captain responded 'negative; we are about to enter the procedure turn;' the controller came back with 'procedure turn approved.' we approached atrll from the direction of bowie VOR at 180 KTS; turned left to enter the procedure turn; [and] began the descent to 2;500 ft. As we crossed the localizer outbound preparing to bank right for the turn inbound; the controller instructed us to return to 3;100 ft. We told him we were on the approach but he came back saying we couldn't go lower than 3;100 ft. We climbed back to 3;100 ft until established inbound and continued the approach. We should have clarified what the controller wanted prior to executing the approach. Our conclusions were based on believing the controller did not make a mistake. If we had told him the glideslope was at 2;300 ft at atrll; not 3;100 ft; he may have revised his instructions and we wouldn't have had to do the full procedure. Effective communication is vital; we should have attempted to clarify the controller's intentions.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An air carrier flight crew assigned 3;100 FT on a vector to SPS Runway 33L ILS began a descent to 2;500 FT as they entered the procedure turn but were told by ATC to maintain 3;100 FT on the outbound leg.

Narrative: We were diverting to SPS after our destination closed due to weather. ATC instructed us to proceed direct to SPS and we advised ATC we were planning on executing the ILS to Runway 33L. As we got approximately 30 miles away we were cleared direct to the final approach fix ATRLL for the ILS. The Controller cleared us to 3;100 FT; and cleared us for the ILS; but the glideslope intercept at ATRLL is 2;300 FT. We concluded that he must expect us to do the full procedure. As we approached ATRLL the Controller asked if we were established; the Captain responded 'negative; we are about to enter the procedure turn;' the Controller came back with 'procedure turn approved.' We approached ATRLL from the direction of BOWIE VOR at 180 KTS; turned left to enter the procedure turn; [and] began the descent to 2;500 FT. As we crossed the localizer outbound preparing to bank right for the turn inbound; the Controller instructed us to return to 3;100 FT. We told him we were on the approach but he came back saying we couldn't go lower than 3;100 FT. We climbed back to 3;100 FT until established inbound and continued the approach. We should have clarified what the Controller wanted prior to executing the approach. Our conclusions were based on believing the Controller did not make a mistake. If we had told him the glideslope was at 2;300 FT at ATRLL; not 3;100 FT; he may have revised his instructions and we wouldn't have had to do the full procedure. Effective communication is vital; we should have attempted to clarify the Controller's intentions.

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.

Attributes
ACN	1119080
Time
Date	201309
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	SPS.Airport
State Reference	TX
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	First Officer Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Commercial
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Procedural Other / Unknown

An air carrier flight crew assigned 3;100 ft on a vector to sps runway 33L ILS began a descent to 2;500 ft as they entered the procedure turn but were told by ATC to maintain 3;100 ft on the outbound leg.