Cpr aircraft descends too low on STAR believing controller assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	222096
Time
Date	199209
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : avp
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other enroute airway : n90
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 77 flight time total : 7300
ASRS Report	222096
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I had filed the wilkes barre 3 arrival into mmu. We had crossed wilkes barre VOR at 13000. At 32 mi from mugzy, we were cleared down to 2000, to be there crossing mugzy. The copilot dialed 2000 into the altitude select. I read back 'descent to 2000, be there crossing mugzy.' I got no further response from the controller. We were in visual conditions. I commented to the copilot that I hoped mugzy was on the other side of the ridges. I said the controller was trying to get our aircraft below faster traffic. I checked our charts to see how 2000 was safe, but it did not look good. I told the copilot I certainly would not descend that low in IMC, but since we could see obstructions we would not descend into anything. I turned on the radar altimeter. The copilot was flying and hurrying to get down by mugzy. Approaching 4000 ft the controller asked our altitude. I said, 'through 4000 for 2000.' he said 'maintain 5000.' I said, 'leaving 4000 for 5000.' the controller said nothing further. I said, 'we were cleared to 2000 ft. The controller said 'negative, min altitude in that area is 5000.' nothing more was said by pilot or controller. I now wish I had expressed my doubts to the controller rather than to the copilot.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CPR ACFT DSNDS TOO LOW ON STAR BELIEVING CTLR ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: I HAD FILED THE WILKES BARRE 3 ARR INTO MMU. WE HAD CROSSED WILKES BARRE VOR AT 13000. AT 32 MI FROM MUGZY, WE WERE CLRED DOWN TO 2000, TO BE THERE XING MUGZY. THE COPLT DIALED 2000 INTO THE ALT SELECT. I READ BACK 'DSCNT TO 2000, BE THERE XING MUGZY.' I GOT NO FURTHER RESPONSE FROM THE CTLR. WE WERE IN VISUAL CONDITIONS. I COMMENTED TO THE COPLT THAT I HOPED MUGZY WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIDGES. I SAID THE CTLR WAS TRYING TO GET OUR ACFT BELOW FASTER TFC. I CHKED OUR CHARTS TO SEE HOW 2000 WAS SAFE, BUT IT DID NOT LOOK GOOD. I TOLD THE COPLT I CERTAINLY WOULD NOT DSND THAT LOW IN IMC, BUT SINCE WE COULD SEE OBSTRUCTIONS WE WOULD NOT DSND INTO ANYTHING. I TURNED ON THE RADAR ALTIMETER. THE COPLT WAS FLYING AND HURRYING TO GET DOWN BY MUGZY. APCHING 4000 FT THE CTLR ASKED OUR ALT. I SAID, 'THROUGH 4000 FOR 2000.' HE SAID 'MAINTAIN 5000.' I SAID, 'LEAVING 4000 FOR 5000.' THE CTLR SAID NOTHING FURTHER. I SAID, 'WE WERE CLRED TO 2000 FT. THE CTLR SAID 'NEGATIVE, MIN ALT IN THAT AREA IS 5000.' NOTHING MORE WAS SAID BY PLT OR CTLR. I NOW WISH I HAD EXPRESSED MY DOUBTS TO THE CTLR RATHER THAN TO THE COPLT.

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.