Small aircraft pilot apparently misunderstands clearance altitude.

Attributes
ACN	128566
Time
Date	198911
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pgv
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 2 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 1000 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	128566
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : non radar
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While descending from pitt-greenville (nc), I thought my assigned altitude was 4000'. Upon reaching 4000', traffic was called at 12 O'clock, 4000'. I questioned to check my assigned altitude of 4000'. The controller told me to descend as soon as possible, then cleared me for the approach. When I was 2 mi from the runway the controller informed me there had been a close call and that there would be an investigation. He gave me a # to call. The problem in this situation is that the controller was very difficult to understand due to his accent. His speech was very difficult to understand. Also, a controller should not tell a pilot in IMC conditions, 2 mi from T/D, that there is going to be an investigation. The pilot already has enough on his mind.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT APPARENTLY MISUNDERSTANDS CLRNC ALT.

Narrative: WHILE DSNDING FROM PITT-GREENVILLE (NC), I THOUGHT MY ASSIGNED ALT WAS 4000'. UPON REACHING 4000', TFC WAS CALLED AT 12 O'CLOCK, 4000'. I QUESTIONED TO CHK MY ASSIGNED ALT OF 4000'. THE CTLR TOLD ME TO DSND ASAP, THEN CLRED ME FOR THE APCH. WHEN I WAS 2 MI FROM THE RWY THE CTLR INFORMED ME THERE HAD BEEN A CLOSE CALL AND THAT THERE WOULD BE AN INVESTIGATION. HE GAVE ME A # TO CALL. THE PROB IN THIS SITUATION IS THAT THE CTLR WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND DUE TO HIS ACCENT. HIS SPEECH WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND. ALSO, A CTLR SHOULD NOT TELL A PLT IN IMC CONDITIONS, 2 MI FROM T/D, THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE AN INVESTIGATION. THE PLT ALREADY HAS ENOUGH ON HIS MIND.

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.