Midnight check hauler pilot requests flight below MEA.

Attributes
ACN	158263
Time
Date	199009
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : swr airport : rno
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 13000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zoa
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 2850 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	158263
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

En route from bur to rno, I had received a revised clearance from ZOA as direct fmg, direct, maintain 14000'. Since I had been cleared on a direct route segment between swr and fmg, and not along V6, who's MEA is 13000' between those 2 fixes, I decided to see if ZOA would approve a lower altitude, thinking the MVA could be considerably lower than the MEA. I requested 12000' and that was approved. Shortly after leveling at 12000', a controller told me to climb to 13000' since that was the 'minimum altitude in that area.' he next advised me that my clearance had been to truck intersection. That would have taken me to a segment of V200 where the MEA is 11500'. I advised the controller that at no time had anyone said anything to me about truck intersection, in a clearance or otherwise. His reply was 'sorry for the mixup in communication.' I personally don't believe if I was ever cleared to truck until after the fact. To have avoided the situation I should have asked for confirmation that I was cleared direct swr to fmg at 12000', 1000' below the MEA of V6.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MIDNIGHT CHECK HAULER PLT REQUESTS FLT BELOW MEA.

Narrative: ENRTE FROM BUR TO RNO, I HAD RECEIVED A REVISED CLRNC FROM ZOA AS DIRECT FMG, DIRECT, MAINTAIN 14000'. SINCE I HAD BEEN CLRED ON A DIRECT RTE SEGMENT BTWN SWR AND FMG, AND NOT ALONG V6, WHO'S MEA IS 13000' BTWN THOSE 2 FIXES, I DECIDED TO SEE IF ZOA WOULD APPROVE A LOWER ALT, THINKING THE MVA COULD BE CONSIDERABLY LOWER THAN THE MEA. I REQUESTED 12000' AND THAT WAS APPROVED. SHORTLY AFTER LEVELING AT 12000', A CTLR TOLD ME TO CLB TO 13000' SINCE THAT WAS THE 'MINIMUM ALT IN THAT AREA.' HE NEXT ADVISED ME THAT MY CLRNC HAD BEEN TO TRUCK INTXN. THAT WOULD HAVE TAKEN ME TO A SEGMENT OF V200 WHERE THE MEA IS 11500'. I ADVISED THE CTLR THAT AT NO TIME HAD ANYONE SAID ANYTHING TO ME ABOUT TRUCK INTXN, IN A CLRNC OR OTHERWISE. HIS REPLY WAS 'SORRY FOR THE MIXUP IN COM.' I PERSONALLY DON'T BELIEVE IF I WAS EVER CLRED TO TRUCK UNTIL AFTER THE FACT. TO HAVE AVOIDED THE SITUATION I SHOULD HAVE ASKED FOR CONFIRMATION THAT I WAS CLRED DIRECT SWR TO FMG AT 12000', 1000' BELOW THE MEA OF V6.

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.