Reporter has problem with ambiguous altitude requirement on VOR approach to slc runway 16L.

Attributes
ACN	322115
Time
Date	199511
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ogd airport : slc
State Reference	UT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9000 msl bound upper : 9600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : slc tower : lyh
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 13600 flight time type : 6500
ASRS Report	322115
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Chart Or Publication
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

In VFR conditions, salt lake approach cleared us for the VOR DME 16 left approach to salt lake when we were west of ogden VOR at 10000 ft MSL. The approach chart designates an altitude of 9000 ft after ogden on the feeder/transition course of 138 degrees. The first officer descended to 9000 ft on the radial after ogd. Approach control then advised us that 'higher-ups' had determined that we should level off at 9600 ft on that segment, because of a crossing altitude of '9600 ft at ironns intersection (where another radial also merged with the localizer course). It is a confusing dilemma for this approach.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR HAS PROB WITH AMBIGUOUS ALT REQUIREMENT ON VOR APCH TO SLC RWY 16L.

Narrative: IN VFR CONDITIONS, SALT LAKE APCH CLRED US FOR THE VOR DME 16 L APCH TO SALT LAKE WHEN WE WERE W OF OGDEN VOR AT 10000 FT MSL. THE APCH CHART DESIGNATES AN ALT OF 9000 FT AFTER OGDEN ON THE FEEDER/TRANSITION COURSE OF 138 DEGS. THE FO DSNDED TO 9000 FT ON THE RADIAL AFTER OGD. APCH CTL THEN ADVISED US THAT 'HIGHER-UPS' HAD DETERMINED THAT WE SHOULD LEVEL OFF AT 9600 FT ON THAT SEGMENT, BECAUSE OF A XING ALT OF '9600 FT AT IRONNS INTXN (WHERE ANOTHER RADIAL ALSO MERGED WITH THE LOC COURSE). IT IS A CONFUSING DILEMMA FOR THIS APCH.'

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.