Air carrier excursion from assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	157042
Time
Date	199009
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lga
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3200 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90 artcc : zau
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 140 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	157042
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 2000 vertical : 400
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Had been cleared to follow river until passing empire state bldg, then cleared visibility approach to runway 13. Told first officer I wasn't sure where empire state bldg was. He pointed out green bldg off right side. Started a slow descent. Approach control called us out of 3200' and told us we should be at 3500' and traffic ahead coming down river at 1500 or 3000'. I had traffic directly ahead visually and never had to make evasive maneuvers as I began climb to 3500'. Rest of approach uneventful. Only comment: in the northeast, we have a lot of visibility chkpoints. I, myself, will be wary of these unless both pilots are familiar with them.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR EXCURSION FROM ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: HAD BEEN CLRED TO FOLLOW RIVER UNTIL PASSING EMPIRE STATE BLDG, THEN CLRED VIS APCH TO RWY 13. TOLD F/O I WASN'T SURE WHERE EMPIRE STATE BLDG WAS. HE POINTED OUT GREEN BLDG OFF RIGHT SIDE. STARTED A SLOW DSNT. APCH CTL CALLED US OUT OF 3200' AND TOLD US WE SHOULD BE AT 3500' AND TFC AHEAD COMING DOWN RIVER AT 1500 OR 3000'. I HAD TFC DIRECTLY AHEAD VISUALLY AND NEVER HAD TO MAKE EVASIVE MANEUVERS AS I BEGAN CLB TO 3500'. REST OF APCH UNEVENTFUL. ONLY COMMENT: IN THE NE, WE HAVE A LOT OF VIS CHKPOINTS. I, MYSELF, WILL BE WARY OF THESE UNLESS BOTH PLTS ARE FAMILIAR WITH THEM.

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.