A DO28 commuter flight crew on a visual approach and maintaining 3000 ft misunderstand ATC instructions and begin descent to 2000 ft to remain clear of clouds. The controller's instruction was to maintain 3000 ft due to traffic at 2000 ft. The rptrs heard 2000 ft and descended into traffic. As they descended, a TCASII RA was received and they commenced a climb to comply.

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Attributes
ACN	359107
Time
Date	199701
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : yyj
State Reference	BC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : yyj
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	approach : visual enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	other : unknown
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 195 flight time total : 7300 flight time type : 780
ASRS Report	359107
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 5200 flight time type : 550
ASRS Report	359341
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 9000 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While en route from sea to yyj we advised victoria approach control that we had the airport (yyj) in sight. He then cleared us for the visual approach for runway 20 not below 3000 ft and to contact tower 119.7 for lower. We contacted tower and we heard 'cleared visual runway 20 maintain 2000 ft.' we began descent. Both first officer and myself noted that we couldn't remain visual due to lowering ceilings. At that time an RA came over TCASII and tower queried as to why we were descending. I replied, 'we were cleared to maintain 2000 ft.' he replied 'no, I cleared you to maintain 3000 ft due to traffic at 2000 ft.' note: traffic passed well to the west. No conflict other than TCASII.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DO28 COMMUTER FLC ON A VISUAL APCH AND MAINTAINING 3000 FT MISUNDERSTAND ATC INSTRUCTIONS AND BEGIN DSCNT TO 2000 FT TO REMAIN CLR OF CLOUDS. THE CTLR'S INSTRUCTION WAS TO MAINTAIN 3000 FT DUE TO TFC AT 2000 FT. THE RPTRS HEARD 2000 FT AND DSNDED INTO TFC. AS THEY DSNDED, A TCASII RA WAS RECEIVED AND THEY COMMENCED A CLB TO COMPLY.

Narrative: WHILE ENRTE FROM SEA TO YYJ WE ADVISED VICTORIA APCH CTL THAT WE HAD THE ARPT (YYJ) IN SIGHT. HE THEN CLRED US FOR THE VISUAL APCH FOR RWY 20 NOT BELOW 3000 FT AND TO CONTACT TWR 119.7 FOR LOWER. WE CONTACTED TWR AND WE HEARD 'CLRED VISUAL RWY 20 MAINTAIN 2000 FT.' WE BEGAN DSCNT. BOTH FO AND MYSELF NOTED THAT WE COULDN'T REMAIN VISUAL DUE TO LOWERING CEILINGS. AT THAT TIME AN RA CAME OVER TCASII AND TWR QUERIED AS TO WHY WE WERE DSNDING. I REPLIED, 'WE WERE CLRED TO MAINTAIN 2000 FT.' HE REPLIED 'NO, I CLRED YOU TO MAINTAIN 3000 FT DUE TO TFC AT 2000 FT.' NOTE: TFC PASSED WELL TO THE W. NO CONFLICT OTHER THAN TCASII.

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.