Narrative:

I was PIC in small aircraft single engine land on IFR flight plan VFR on top at 9500 on V388 eastbound to psp. Intended landing: psp approach control cleared me to descend to 7000 and look for airport (ATIS runway 13R and 21 in use) but was too high and in moderate turbulence and smog to see airport. I requested vectors to VOR B psp approach 290 degree radial. (I've done this many times without any problems) and requested runway 31L. Wind decreasing 090 degrees/10 KTS -- then cleared to 5000 heading 110 degrees abeam psp. I again requested VOR B approach to psp and direct trm VOR hoping for runway 31L and I assumed I was cleared to descend to 4000 for that vector and VOR B psp. I was in moderate turbulence still assuming that VFR on top was superseded by 'radar contact' and vectors to trm at 4000 ft. Then, I was cleared to land visually on 13R and given headings and descent approved but I stated 'too high -- 4 mi from airport - - request extend heading 110 degree to intercept final approach VOR B psp' and then was given right turns heading to runway 31L. Since I had visual contact, tower cleared to land and then landed on 31L without a problem and winds had decreased to 090 degrees/7 KTS. I had difficulty locating closest taxiway to FBO and my tie-down. Made 180 degree turn on taxiway after cleared by ground control and tied down. Tower chief talked to me reference 'descended below 5000 without approval.'

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMA SINGLE ENG LAND PVT ACFT DSNDED BELOW ASSIGNED FLT DURING DSCNT IN ANTICIPATION OF A FAMILIAR APCH.

Narrative: I WAS PIC IN SMA SINGLE ENG LAND ON IFR FLT PLAN VFR ON TOP AT 9500 ON V388 EBOUND TO PSP. INTENDED LNDG: PSP APCH CTL CLRED ME TO DSND TO 7000 AND LOOK FOR ARPT (ATIS RWY 13R AND 21 IN USE) BUT WAS TOO HIGH AND IN MODERATE TURB AND SMOG TO SEE ARPT. I REQUESTED VECTORS TO VOR B PSP APCH 290 DEG RADIAL. (I'VE DONE THIS MANY TIMES WITHOUT ANY PROBS) AND REQUESTED RWY 31L. WIND DECREASING 090 DEGS/10 KTS -- THEN CLRED TO 5000 HDG 110 DEGS ABEAM PSP. I AGAIN REQUESTED VOR B APCH TO PSP AND DIRECT TRM VOR HOPING FOR RWY 31L AND I ASSUMED I WAS CLRED TO DSND TO 4000 FOR THAT VECTOR AND VOR B PSP. I WAS IN MODERATE TURB STILL ASSUMING THAT VFR ON TOP WAS SUPERSEDED BY 'RADAR CONTACT' AND VECTORS TO TRM AT 4000 FT. THEN, I WAS CLRED TO LAND VISUALLY ON 13R AND GIVEN HDGS AND DSCNT APPROVED BUT I STATED 'TOO HIGH -- 4 MI FROM ARPT - - REQUEST EXTEND HDG 110 DEG TO INTERCEPT FINAL APCH VOR B PSP' AND THEN WAS GIVEN R TURNS HDG TO RWY 31L. SINCE I HAD VISUAL CONTACT, TWR CLRED TO LAND AND THEN LANDED ON 31L WITHOUT A PROB AND WINDS HAD DECREASED TO 090 DEGS/7 KTS. I HAD DIFFICULTY LOCATING CLOSEST TXWY TO FBO AND MY TIE-DOWN. MADE 180 DEG TURN ON TXWY AFTER CLRED BY GND CTL AND TIED DOWN. TWR CHIEF TALKED TO ME REF 'DSNDED BELOW 5000 WITHOUT APPROVAL.'

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.