Corporate flight crew cleared to intercept DME arc, but not for the approach, begins descent to appr...

Attributes
ACN	146972
Time
Date	199005
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : gck
State Reference	KS
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6500 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 5100 flight time type : 900
ASRS Report	146972
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 125 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 900
ASRS Report	146971
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On an IFR flight from emporia to garden city, ks at 16000', we requested lower because of turbulence. Center cleared to 7000', we reported leaving 16000' and began descent. Nearing garden city, ZKC cleared us to intercept the 9 DME arc for the VOR 35 approach at garden city. We were not cleared for the approach, however we erroneously believed we could descend to the arc altitude of 4700' MSL. Our descent was down to 6500' MSL when center brought to our attention our altitude restriction of 7000' to which we climbed immediately. Possibly solutions or corrective actions would be more attention to clrncs and center instructions. While we were busy in the cockpit at the time, we as flight crew must be exacting in our communication and understanding of that communication. Supplemental information from acn 146971: possible solution: listen more carefully when you and controllers are busy and listen to other traffic. There was more than 1 aircraft on the same approach we should have listened more carefully.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CORPORATE FLT CREW CLEARED TO INTERCEPT DME ARC, BUT NOT FOR THE APCH, BEGINS DESCENT TO APCH ALT.

Narrative: ON AN IFR FLT FROM EMPORIA TO GARDEN CITY, KS AT 16000', WE REQUESTED LOWER BECAUSE OF TURB. CENTER CLRED TO 7000', WE RPTED LEAVING 16000' AND BEGAN DSNT. NEARING GARDEN CITY, ZKC CLRED US TO INTERCEPT THE 9 DME ARC FOR THE VOR 35 APCH AT GARDEN CITY. WE WERE NOT CLRED FOR THE APCH, HOWEVER WE ERRONEOUSLY BELIEVED WE COULD DSND TO THE ARC ALT OF 4700' MSL. OUR DSNT WAS DOWN TO 6500' MSL WHEN CENTER BROUGHT TO OUR ATTN OUR ALT RESTRICTION OF 7000' TO WHICH WE CLBED IMMEDIATELY. POSSIBLY SOLUTIONS OR CORRECTIVE ACTIONS WOULD BE MORE ATTN TO CLRNCS AND CENTER INSTRUCTIONS. WHILE WE WERE BUSY IN THE COCKPIT AT THE TIME, WE AS FLT CREW MUST BE EXACTING IN OUR COM AND UNDERSTANDING OF THAT COM. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 146971: POSSIBLE SOLUTION: LISTEN MORE CAREFULLY WHEN YOU AND CTLRS ARE BUSY AND LISTEN TO OTHER TFC. THERE WAS MORE THAN 1 ACFT ON THE SAME APCH WE SHOULD HAVE LISTENED MORE CAREFULLY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.

Corporate flight crew cleared to intercept DME arc, but not for the approach, begins descent to approach altitude.