Narrative:

We were at 2000 ft and given a clearance 'cleared direct to kenai, intercept the ena localizer, proceed inbound.' with the copilot flying we did that, and upon localizer intercept, we proceeded inbound and at about 15 DME we descended down and were flying the approach according to the ILS runway 19 approach plate. At about 13 DME we received our approach clearance 'maintain 2000 ft until established on a published portion of the approach, cleared ILS runway 19 to the ena airport, contact ena radio 121.3.' at 13 DME we were exactly on the approach according to the approach plate, which is lower than 2000 ft clearance at 13 DME. As a result an altitude deviation. Normally we receive a clearance at localizer intercept, and being creatures of habit this time we did not. The copilot then flew a very nice ILS. Center never said anything about our altitude deviation, nor did kenai radio. The end result is we were IFR on an IFR flight plan and descended without receiving an approach clearance. Normally we receive a clearance from center prior to when we did. I would also like to include we were the only traffic in the area.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ATX SMT FLC RPT THAT THEY STARTED A DSCNT WITHOUT A CLRNC WHILE ON APCH TO ENA.

Narrative: WE WERE AT 2000 FT AND GIVEN A CLRNC 'CLRED DIRECT TO KENAI, INTERCEPT THE ENA LOC, PROCEED INBOUND.' WITH THE COPLT FLYING WE DID THAT, AND UPON LOC INTERCEPT, WE PROCEEDED INBOUND AND AT ABOUT 15 DME WE DSNDED DOWN AND WERE FLYING THE APCH ACCORDING TO THE ILS RWY 19 APCH PLATE. AT ABOUT 13 DME WE RECEIVED OUR APCH CLRNC 'MAINTAIN 2000 FT UNTIL ESTABLISHED ON A PUBLISHED PORTION OF THE APCH, CLRED ILS RWY 19 TO THE ENA ARPT, CONTACT ENA RADIO 121.3.' AT 13 DME WE WERE EXACTLY ON THE APCH ACCORDING TO THE APCH PLATE, WHICH IS LOWER THAN 2000 FT CLRNC AT 13 DME. AS A RESULT AN ALTDEV. NORMALLY WE RECEIVE A CLRNC AT LOC INTERCEPT, AND BEING CREATURES OF HABIT THIS TIME WE DID NOT. THE COPLT THEN FLEW A VERY NICE ILS. CTR NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT OUR ALTDEV, NOR DID KENAI RADIO. THE END RESULT IS WE WERE IFR ON AN IFR FLT PLAN AND DSNDED WITHOUT RECEIVING AN APCH CLRNC. NORMALLY WE RECEIVE A CLRNC FROM CTR PRIOR TO WHEN WE DID. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO INCLUDE WE WERE THE ONLY TFC IN THE AREA.

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.