A pilot was cleared into holding at jiset on the rmg RNAV runway 19 at 4;000 feet and descended to 3...

Attributes
ACN	1252260
Time
Date	201503
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	RMG.Airport
State Reference	GA
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft High Wing 1 Eng Retractable Gear
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 38 Flight Crew Total 425 Flight Crew Type 170
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Altitude Undershoot Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Narrative:

I'm a newly minted instrument pilot. This was actually my first flight in IMC since receiving my instrument rating. Enroute to rmg; I was navigating direct to jiset for the full approach RNAV 19 into rmg. About 8nm from jiset ATC said 'maintain 4000 until established cleared for the RNAV 19 report inbound from jiset'. The published altitude for the hold at jiset is 3500 ft. About 2 miles from jiset. ATC asked my distance from jiset and then said 'I need to get a plane off ahead of you - hold at jiset.' I replied 'hold at jiset XXX.' I proceeded to jiset entered the hold and descended to 3500 ft- the published holding altitude. ATC asked 2 minutes later 'XXX what's your altitude' I replied 3500. ATC said 'I didn't clear you for 3500 then asked me to climb to 4000 ft - which I did.it seems that communication was the main problem. Obviously when I was asked to hold my clearance was cancelled. ATC could have stated the holding altitude but more importantly I should have asked ATC to confirm the altitude he wanted me to hold at.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A pilot was cleared into holding at JISET on the RMG RNAV RWY 19 at 4;000 feet and descended to 3;500 feet; the minimum holding altitude. ATC directed him back to 4;000 feet because he was not cleared to descend.

Narrative: I'm a newly minted instrument pilot. This was actually my first flight in IMC since receiving my instrument rating. Enroute to RMG; I was navigating direct to JISET for the full approach RNAV 19 into RMG. About 8nm from JISET ATC said 'Maintain 4000 until established cleared for the RNAV 19 report inbound from JISET'. The published altitude for the hold at JISET is 3500 ft. About 2 miles from JISET. ATC asked my distance from JISET and then said 'I need to get a plane off ahead of you - hold at JISET.' I replied 'hold at JISET XXX.' I proceeded to JISET entered the hold and descended to 3500 FT- the published holding altitude. ATC asked 2 minutes later 'XXX what's your altitude' I replied 3500. ATC said 'I didn't clear you for 3500 then asked me to climb to 4000 FT - Which I did.It seems that communication was the main problem. Obviously when I was asked to hold my clearance was cancelled. ATC could have stated the holding altitude but more importantly I should have asked ATC to confirm the altitude he wanted me to hold at.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

A pilot was cleared into holding at jiset on the rmg RNAV runway 19 at 4;000 feet and descended to 3;500 feet; the minimum holding altitude. ATC directed him back to 4;000 feet because he was not cleared to descend.