Small aircraft pilot descends below assigned altitude on transition to approach.

Attributes
ACN	174999
Time
Date	199104
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ole
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5700 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : grr
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zob enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 24 flight time total : 558 flight time type : 427
ASRS Report	174999
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : far non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was at 6000' and cleared for elz VOR transition to localizer approach at olean, ny. Transition altitude is 4000'. I thought as I was cleared for the approach, I called center that I was leaving 6000 for 4000'. I may have descended more than 300'. Center asked me to maintain 6000'. I got a call for FAA on 4/91 that center had reported altitude deviation. During this I found out I had let my medical certificate lapse. I got a new one the same day. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: reports states he has received letter from FAA and has responded. They have discussed remedial training. It appears controller cleared for approach, but also instructed to maintain 6000'. He plans to listen to tapes to be sure. Says he misread the date on his medical and thought he had a yr to go.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT DESCENDS BELOW ASSIGNED ALT ON TRANSITION TO APCH.

Narrative: I WAS AT 6000' AND CLRED FOR ELZ VOR TRANSITION TO LOC APCH AT OLEAN, NY. TRANSITION ALT IS 4000'. I THOUGHT AS I WAS CLRED FOR THE APCH, I CALLED CENTER THAT I WAS LEAVING 6000 FOR 4000'. I MAY HAVE DSNDED MORE THAN 300'. CENTER ASKED ME TO MAINTAIN 6000'. I GOT A CALL FOR FAA ON 4/91 THAT CENTER HAD RPTED ALT DEVIATION. DURING THIS I FOUND OUT I HAD LET MY MEDICAL CERTIFICATE LAPSE. I GOT A NEW ONE THE SAME DAY. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: RPTS STATES HE HAS RECEIVED LETTER FROM FAA AND HAS RESPONDED. THEY HAVE DISCUSSED REMEDIAL TRAINING. IT APPEARS CTLR CLRED FOR APCH, BUT ALSO INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN 6000'. HE PLANS TO LISTEN TO TAPES TO BE SURE. SAYS HE MISREAD THE DATE ON HIS MEDICAL AND THOUGHT HE HAD A YR TO GO.

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.