Narrative:

Flight (dca-clear) on majic 5 arrival had just past 'majic' and had been handed off to clt approach. We were at 11000 and 250 KTS. We checked in with approach and were told '...cleared visual approach runway 23.' we read that clearance back. We maintained 11000 ft for approximately 60-90 seconds since we expected vectors for the visual and discussed our plan. Both of us repeated the clearance between each other due to the unusual timing of the clearance. Visual approachs were reported in progress on the ATIS, yet to receive this visual clearance at this point was unusual -- thus the comment within the cockpit. Nevertheless, the WX was beautiful, VMC and we expected no difficulty. Soon after we began a descent. At about 10700 approach called us back. My concern initially was that we were going to be admonished for loitering at 11000 ft. However, the controller asked what we were doing. We explained and then approach said in effect we were never cleared visual. He then cleared us to 6000 ft and vector toward the localizer back course 23, approximately 200 degree heading. After landing we called approach and discussed the situation. 'No problem' existed with approach.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG ALTDEV EXCURSION FROM CLRNC ALT STARTING VISUAL APCH BEFORE BEING CLRED.

Narrative: FLT (DCA-CLR) ON MAJIC 5 ARR HAD JUST PAST 'MAJIC' AND HAD BEEN HANDED OFF TO CLT APCH. WE WERE AT 11000 AND 250 KTS. WE CHKED IN WITH APCH AND WERE TOLD '...CLRED VISUAL APCH RWY 23.' WE READ THAT CLRNC BACK. WE MAINTAINED 11000 FT FOR APPROX 60-90 SECONDS SINCE WE EXPECTED VECTORS FOR THE VISUAL AND DISCUSSED OUR PLAN. BOTH OF US REPEATED THE CLRNC BTWN EACH OTHER DUE TO THE UNUSUAL TIMING OF THE CLRNC. VISUAL APCHS WERE RPTED IN PROGRESS ON THE ATIS, YET TO RECEIVE THIS VISUAL CLRNC AT THIS POINT WAS UNUSUAL -- THUS THE COMMENT WITHIN THE COCKPIT. NEVERTHELESS, THE WX WAS BEAUTIFUL, VMC AND WE EXPECTED NO DIFFICULTY. SOON AFTER WE BEGAN A DSCNT. AT ABOUT 10700 APCH CALLED US BACK. MY CONCERN INITIALLY WAS THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE ADMONISHED FOR LOITERING AT 11000 FT. HOWEVER, THE CTLR ASKED WHAT WE WERE DOING. WE EXPLAINED AND THEN APCH SAID IN EFFECT WE WERE NEVER CLRED VISUAL. HE THEN CLRED US TO 6000 FT AND VECTOR TOWARD THE LOC BC 23, APPROX 200 DEG HDG. AFTER LNDG WE CALLED APCH AND DISCUSSED THE SITUATION. 'NO PROBLEM' EXISTED WITH APCH.

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.