Flight crew altitude excursion through misunderstanding of visual approach clearance.

Attributes
ACN	393389
Time
Date	199802
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lax
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9500 msl bound upper : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : lax
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 16000 flight time type : 1850
ASRS Report	393389
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	other other : other pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	393390
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were cleared for civet 2 arrival to runway 25L by ZLA. Approach control cleared us for the visual approach to runway 24R, after arnes to cross 25 DME at or above 8000 ft. We missed the arnes restr of 10000 ft because we thought we were cleared for the visual. We were approximately 9500 ft, 4 mi from arnes. Approach called it to our attention and to maintain 9000 ft to arnes and still cleared for visual. When cleared for a visual that far out, I think they should really emphasize cleared for the visual after meeting all descent restr. Also we were busy at this time pulling up route 2 in the FMS for the right complex (runway 24R). I really think that they should not clear you for a visual that far, period.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC ALT EXCURSION THROUGH MISUNDERSTANDING OF VISUAL APCH CLRNC.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED FOR CIVET 2 ARR TO RWY 25L BY ZLA. APCH CTL CLRED US FOR THE VISUAL APCH TO RWY 24R, AFTER ARNES TO CROSS 25 DME AT OR ABOVE 8000 FT. WE MISSED THE ARNES RESTR OF 10000 FT BECAUSE WE THOUGHT WE WERE CLRED FOR THE VISUAL. WE WERE APPROX 9500 FT, 4 MI FROM ARNES. APCH CALLED IT TO OUR ATTN AND TO MAINTAIN 9000 FT TO ARNES AND STILL CLRED FOR VISUAL. WHEN CLRED FOR A VISUAL THAT FAR OUT, I THINK THEY SHOULD REALLY EMPHASIZE CLRED FOR THE VISUAL AFTER MEETING ALL DSCNT RESTR. ALSO WE WERE BUSY AT THIS TIME PULLING UP RTE 2 IN THE FMS FOR THE RIGHT COMPLEX (RWY 24R). I REALLY THINK THAT THEY SHOULD NOT CLR YOU FOR A VISUAL THAT FAR, PERIOD.

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.