ATC questions flight crew re their altitude during a visual approach. Medium large transport.

Attributes
ACN	340050
Time
Date	199606
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lga
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : lga
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 19500 flight time type : 17000
ASRS Report	340050
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Intra Facility Coordination Failure

Narrative:

On descent into lga landing pattern, approach control gave us 3000 ft and up hudson river visually for a r-hand pattern to land runway 22 lga. The normal altitude is 4000 ft for this phase of flight. After flying for several mins at 3000 ft the controller asked if we were at 4000 ft. I replied, 'no we were at 3000 ft as he had cleared us.' he said 'oh, contact final control on 134.9.' nothing more was said and no aircraft were in our area according to our TCASII. Next time, under situation, I will ask controller if he is sure he means 3000 ft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC QUESTIONS FLC RE THEIR ALT DURING A VISUAL APCH. MLG.

Narrative: ON DSCNT INTO LGA LNDG PATTERN, APCH CTL GAVE US 3000 FT AND UP HUDSON RIVER VISUALLY FOR A R-HAND PATTERN TO LAND RWY 22 LGA. THE NORMAL ALT IS 4000 FT FOR THIS PHASE OF FLT. AFTER FLYING FOR SEVERAL MINS AT 3000 FT THE CTLR ASKED IF WE WERE AT 4000 FT. I REPLIED, 'NO WE WERE AT 3000 FT AS HE HAD CLRED US.' HE SAID 'OH, CONTACT FINAL CTL ON 134.9.' NOTHING MORE WAS SAID AND NO ACFT WERE IN OUR AREA ACCORDING TO OUR TCASII. NEXT TIME, UNDER SIT, I WILL ASK CTLR IF HE IS SURE HE MEANS 3000 FT.

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.