GA small transport altitude deviation undershot during missed approach procedure.

Attributes
ACN	120860
Time
Date	198908
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : oxd
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2600 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : cvg
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing : go around
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 950 flight time type : 170
ASRS Report	120860
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

On practice training flight, on IFR flight plan (rated since 1982), flying multiple low apches to airports in cincinnati approach airspace, flew NDB runway 4 approach at oxford under hood. Instructor called 'missed approach' and ATC simultaneously gave me a heading of '360 degree and 3000 maintain'. I asked if I could fly the 'published missed' at NDB 4 oxd and ATC said cleared for published missed procedure. I took him to mean 'climb to 2600, left turn direct oxd NDB and hold' (as shown on approach plate). I did that procedure. Instructor then pointed out that even though ATC cleared me for 'published procedure', that did not include a change of altitude to 2600. I indeed asked ATC and they confirmed they still wanted me at 3000! This error grew out of my mistaken impression that 'published procedure' clearance meant the altitude on chart, rather than that given by ATC. I suspect many pilots are unaware of this fact.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMT ALT DEVIATION UNDERSHOT DURING MISSED APCH PROC.

Narrative: ON PRACTICE TRAINING FLT, ON IFR FLT PLAN (RATED SINCE 1982), FLYING MULTIPLE LOW APCHES TO ARPTS IN CINCINNATI APCH AIRSPACE, FLEW NDB RWY 4 APCH AT OXFORD UNDER HOOD. INSTRUCTOR CALLED 'MISSED APCH' AND ATC SIMULTANEOUSLY GAVE ME A HDG OF '360 DEG AND 3000 MAINTAIN'. I ASKED IF I COULD FLY THE 'PUBLISHED MISSED' AT NDB 4 OXD AND ATC SAID CLRED FOR PUBLISHED MISSED PROC. I TOOK HIM TO MEAN 'CLIMB TO 2600, LEFT TURN DIRECT OXD NDB AND HOLD' (AS SHOWN ON APCH PLATE). I DID THAT PROC. INSTRUCTOR THEN POINTED OUT THAT EVEN THOUGH ATC CLRED ME FOR 'PUBLISHED PROC', THAT DID NOT INCLUDE A CHANGE OF ALT TO 2600. I INDEED ASKED ATC AND THEY CONFIRMED THEY STILL WANTED ME AT 3000! THIS ERROR GREW OUT OF MY MISTAKEN IMPRESSION THAT 'PUBLISHED PROC' CLRNC MEANT THE ALT ON CHART, RATHER THAN THAT GIVEN BY ATC. I SUSPECT MANY PLTS ARE UNAWARE OF THIS FACT.

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.