Narrative:

While on descent into lgb in a cpr medium large transport, were cleared via kayoh 2 arrival (kayoh kayoh 2) to cross bands intersection at and maintain 14000'. Shortly after passing bands intersection and proceeding to hdf, ont approach control cleared us to proceed direct to kayoh intersection (INS equipped) and descend to and maintain 5000'. I read back, 'cleared direct kayoh, descend 5000'.' the controller acknowledged. 4-5 mi east of kayoh intersection ATC called and said our altitude restriction was 8000'. We stopped the descent at 6000' and told the controller we had read back the altitude restriction as 5000'. He responded with, 'oh, I missed that; climb to 7000' for terrain clearance.' remainder of flight was west/O incident. I believe a contributing factor to this incident is the frequent use by ATC of altitudes lower than those published in STAR's, SID's and en route charts when VFR conditions exist. I further believe that if flight crews were required to fly these procedures in their entirety, much of the confusion could be eliminated because more of the controller would be put back into the cockpit.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEVIATION. ACR MLG DESCENDS BELOW MINIMUM ENROUTE ALT UPON APCH CTLR'S CLRNC TO A LOWER ALT.

Narrative: WHILE ON DSNT INTO LGB IN A CPR MLG, WERE CLRED VIA KAYOH 2 ARR (KAYOH KAYOH 2) TO CROSS BANDS INTXN AT AND MAINTAIN 14000'. SHORTLY AFTER PASSING BANDS INTXN AND PROCEEDING TO HDF, ONT APCH CTL CLRED US TO PROCEED DIRECT TO KAYOH INTXN (INS EQUIPPED) AND DSND TO AND MAINTAIN 5000'. I READ BACK, 'CLRED DIRECT KAYOH, DSND 5000'.' THE CTLR ACKNOWLEDGED. 4-5 MI E OF KAYOH INTXN ATC CALLED AND SAID OUR ALT RESTRICTION WAS 8000'. WE STOPPED THE DSNT AT 6000' AND TOLD THE CTLR WE HAD READ BACK THE ALT RESTRICTION AS 5000'. HE RESPONDED WITH, 'OH, I MISSED THAT; CLB TO 7000' FOR TERRAIN CLRNC.' REMAINDER OF FLT WAS W/O INCIDENT. I BELIEVE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THIS INCIDENT IS THE FREQUENT USE BY ATC OF ALTS LOWER THAN THOSE PUBLISHED IN STAR'S, SID'S AND ENRTE CHARTS WHEN VFR CONDITIONS EXIST. I FURTHER BELIEVE THAT IF FLT CREWS WERE REQUIRED TO FLY THESE PROCS IN THEIR ENTIRETY, MUCH OF THE CONFUSION COULD BE ELIMINATED BECAUSE MORE OF THE CTLR WOULD BE PUT BACK INTO THE COCKPIT.

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.