Flight crew of medium large transport started descent and approach to abe without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	197819
Time
Date	199112
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : abe
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2400 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : abe tower : lax
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 7100 flight time type : 35
ASRS Report	197819
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While holding at the OM (leehi) for the ILS runway 6 the PF started to execute the approach without the proper clearance. The aircraft was assigned a holding altitude of 4000 when the PF misunderstood a question the controller had for a clearance to execute the approach. The aircraft descended to 2400 ft before the controller questioned our intentions. Major contributing factors: the controller failed to listen to the readback. 1 pilot was off the frequency attending to other duties (company, WX at alternate, and advising of our intentions).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF MLG STARTED DSCNT AND APCH TO ABE WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: WHILE HOLDING AT THE OM (LEEHI) FOR THE ILS RWY 6 THE PF STARTED TO EXECUTE THE APCH WITHOUT THE PROPER CLRNC. THE ACFT WAS ASSIGNED A HOLDING ALT OF 4000 WHEN THE PF MISUNDERSTOOD A QUESTION THE CTLR HAD FOR A CLRNC TO EXECUTE THE APCH. THE ACFT DSNDED TO 2400 FT BEFORE THE CTLR QUESTIONED OUR INTENTIONS. MAJOR CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: THE CTLR FAILED TO LISTEN TO THE READBACK. 1 PLT WAS OFF THE FREQ ATTENDING TO OTHER DUTIES (COMPANY, WX AT ALTERNATE, AND ADVISING OF OUR INTENTIONS).

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.