Narrative:

On my way back from molokai, I was cleared into the hnl TCA. I was told to maintain 2000 ft MSL and approach over the freeway, heading west to hnl. The approach controller then handed me off to tower. I contacted the tower and was told to report entering a downwind to runway 4L. I listened on the frequency and heard no other traffic coming my way. Hnl airport elevation is 13 ft, and never hearing an altitude restriction of 2000 ft, I started to descend to traffic pattern altitude of 800 ft MSL. As I was passing 1700 ft MSL, the hnl tower controller called me and said 'hnl altimeter 30.02.' I gave my call sign back that we agreed. As I was passing through 1500 ft MSL, the tower called and said, is that you descending on your own?' I replied, 'that's affirmative.' the tower then told me 'cleared to land 4L.' I landed 4L. I did not believe I had an altitude restriction on me. The only reason I realized something was wrong was when the man flying with me (thousands-hours pilot) told me when the controller calls you and gives you the altimeter setting, it's like a warning to you. Well, why be coy -- tell me now what's wrong so I can fix it! I was extremely disturbed about how this happened because I consider myself very diligent in my efforts to be safe and adhere to regulation. What is more frustrating is, this happened on the same day the tower cleared us to takeoff on 4L when another plane was landing -- not a good day!

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NON ADHERENCE TO ATC CLRNC INSTRUCTION LEADS TO AN ALTDEV ALT EXCURSION.

Narrative: ON MY WAY BACK FROM MOLOKAI, I WAS CLRED INTO THE HNL TCA. I WAS TOLD TO MAINTAIN 2000 FT MSL AND APCH OVER THE FREEWAY, HDG W TO HNL. THE APCH CTLR THEN HANDED ME OFF TO TWR. I CONTACTED THE TWR AND WAS TOLD TO RPT ENTERING A DOWNWIND TO RWY 4L. I LISTENED ON THE FREQ AND HEARD NO OTHER TFC COMING MY WAY. HNL ARPT ELEVATION IS 13 FT, AND NEVER HEARING AN ALT RESTRICTION OF 2000 FT, I STARTED TO DSND TO TFC PATTERN ALT OF 800 FT MSL. AS I WAS PASSING 1700 FT MSL, THE HNL TWR CTLR CALLED ME AND SAID 'HNL ALTIMETER 30.02.' I GAVE MY CALL SIGN BACK THAT WE AGREED. AS I WAS PASSING THROUGH 1500 FT MSL, THE TWR CALLED AND SAID, IS THAT YOU DSNDING ON YOUR OWN?' I REPLIED, 'THAT'S AFFIRMATIVE.' THE TWR THEN TOLD ME 'CLRED TO LAND 4L.' I LANDED 4L. I DID NOT BELIEVE I HAD AN ALT RESTRICTION ON ME. THE ONLY REASON I REALIZED SOMETHING WAS WRONG WAS WHEN THE MAN FLYING WITH ME (THOUSANDS-HRS PLT) TOLD ME WHEN THE CTLR CALLS YOU AND GIVES YOU THE ALTIMETER SETTING, IT'S LIKE A WARNING TO YOU. WELL, WHY BE COY -- TELL ME NOW WHAT'S WRONG SO I CAN FIX IT! I WAS EXTREMELY DISTURBED ABOUT HOW THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE I CONSIDER MYSELF VERY DILIGENT IN MY EFFORTS TO BE SAFE AND ADHERE TO REG. WHAT IS MORE FRUSTRATING IS, THIS HAPPENED ON THE SAME DAY THE TWR CLRED US TO TKOF ON 4L WHEN ANOTHER PLANE WAS LNDG -- NOT A GOOD DAY!

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.