Altitude deviation altitude overshot during assumed visual approach procedure.

Attributes
ACN	262274
Time
Date	199401
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bda
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bda
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	262274
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Bda approach control cleared flight for approach. Captain misunderstood clearance and descended below approach fix altitude thinking he was cleared for a 'visual.' no conflict or terrain aspects. Flight was VFR, over the water and altitude deviation was minimal. Uneventful approach. Approach frequency was weak and flight was not in radar control.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV ALT OVERSHOT DURING ASSUMED VISUAL APCH PROC.

Narrative: BDA APCH CTL CLRED FLT FOR APCH. CAPT MISUNDERSTOOD CLRNC AND DSNDED BELOW APCH FIX ALT THINKING HE WAS CLRED FOR A 'VISUAL.' NO CONFLICT OR TERRAIN ASPECTS. FLT WAS VFR, OVER THE WATER AND ALTDEV WAS MINIMAL. UNEVENTFUL APCH. APCH FREQ WAS WEAK AND FLT WAS NOT IN RADAR CTL.

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.