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Aircraft was cleared as requested by ATC and upon intercepting the dma arc, descended below last assigned altitude.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 113280 |
| Time | |
| Date | 198906 |
| Day | Tue |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : tvf |
| State Reference | MN |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 2700 msl bound upper : 3000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zmp tower : mke |
| Operator | general aviation : instructional |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Route In Use | arrival other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : first officer instruction : instructor |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 92 flight time total : 1296 flight time type : 127 |
| ASRS Report | 113280 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : captain instruction : trainee |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : commercial |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | other |
| Situations | |
| ATC Facility | procedure or policy : unspecified |
Narrative:
We were on an IFR training flight. Upon being handed off to center, I stated our intentions as wanting to intercept the DME arc and shoot the ILS approach. Center responded with our aircraft identification and stated that we were, 'cleared as requested', which I read back. My understanding was that center had cleared me for everything that I had requested. Seems obvious, right? Our en route altitude was 3000' MSL. Upon intercepting the arc we descended to the arc altitude of 2700' MSL. I called center and told them that we were established on the arc. As we leveled off at 2700', center asked us for our altitude (we had mode C). After giving it to ATC, the controller nonchalantly replied 'roger'. We continued flying the arc at 2700' and prior to the localizer, center called us again and cleared us for the ILS approach. Here is the question: does 'cleared as requested' also clear me for the approach that I had asked to shoot? If it does, then I was perfectly right to descend from 3000' to 2700'. However, it it does not, then I should have stayed at 3000'.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ACFT WAS CLEARED AS REQUESTED BY ATC AND UPON INTERCEPTING THE DMA ARC, DESCENDED BELOW LAST ASSIGNED ALT.
Narrative: WE WERE ON AN IFR TRAINING FLT. UPON BEING HANDED OFF TO CENTER, I STATED OUR INTENTIONS AS WANTING TO INTERCEPT THE DME ARC AND SHOOT THE ILS APCH. CENTER RESPONDED WITH OUR ACFT ID AND STATED THAT WE WERE, 'CLRED AS REQUESTED', WHICH I READ BACK. MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT CENTER HAD CLRED ME FOR EVERYTHING THAT I HAD REQUESTED. SEEMS OBVIOUS, RIGHT? OUR ENRTE ALT WAS 3000' MSL. UPON INTERCEPTING THE ARC WE DESCENDED TO THE ARC ALT OF 2700' MSL. I CALLED CENTER AND TOLD THEM THAT WE WERE ESTABLISHED ON THE ARC. AS WE LEVELED OFF AT 2700', CENTER ASKED US FOR OUR ALT (WE HAD MODE C). AFTER GIVING IT TO ATC, THE CTLR NONCHALANTLY REPLIED 'ROGER'. WE CONTINUED FLYING THE ARC AT 2700' AND PRIOR TO THE LOC, CENTER CALLED US AGAIN AND CLRED US FOR THE ILS APCH. HERE IS THE QUESTION: DOES 'CLRED AS REQUESTED' ALSO CLEAR ME FOR THE APCH THAT I HAD ASKED TO SHOOT? IF IT DOES, THEN I WAS PERFECTLY RIGHT TO DSND FROM 3000' TO 2700'. HOWEVER, IT IT DOES NOT, THEN I SHOULD HAVE STAYED AT 3000'.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.