Single engine turboprop pilot deviates from assigned altitude in holding pattern after misinterping ...

Attributes
ACN	416210
Time
Date	199809
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : jhw
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4500 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	416210
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Routine business flight from home base at 9g3 to job site near jhw. I was on an IFR flight plan (routine for me) although 9g3 was VFR. Jhw was IFR, 2000 ft broken. I was told to hold as published at the jhw VOR at 5000 ft, which I did for a couple of circuits. I heard and acknowledged, descend to 4000 ft and hold. After leaving 5000 ft at about 4500 ft, the controller asked me for my altitude, which was +/-4500 ft. He immediately told me I was supposed to be at 5000 ft and should climb immediately to 5000 ft and hold, which I did. Shortly thereafter, I was cleared for the approach. At 3200 ft I broke out and canceled instruments and landed. The cause of the problem was miscom. In my mind, I was authority/authorized to descend to 4000 ft but obviously that was not in the controller's mind. I did what I could to rectify the situation as soon as possible.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SINGLE ENG TURBOPROP PLT DEVIATES FROM ASSIGNED ALT IN HOLDING PATTERN AFTER MISINTERPING CLRNC IN ERI AIRSPACE.

Narrative: ROUTINE BUSINESS FLT FROM HOME BASE AT 9G3 TO JOB SITE NEAR JHW. I WAS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN (ROUTINE FOR ME) ALTHOUGH 9G3 WAS VFR. JHW WAS IFR, 2000 FT BROKEN. I WAS TOLD TO HOLD AS PUBLISHED AT THE JHW VOR AT 5000 FT, WHICH I DID FOR A COUPLE OF CIRCUITS. I HEARD AND ACKNOWLEDGED, DSND TO 4000 FT AND HOLD. AFTER LEAVING 5000 FT AT ABOUT 4500 FT, THE CTLR ASKED ME FOR MY ALT, WHICH WAS +/-4500 FT. HE IMMEDIATELY TOLD ME I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AT 5000 FT AND SHOULD CLB IMMEDIATELY TO 5000 FT AND HOLD, WHICH I DID. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, I WAS CLRED FOR THE APCH. AT 3200 FT I BROKE OUT AND CANCELED INSTS AND LANDED. THE CAUSE OF THE PROB WAS MISCOM. IN MY MIND, I WAS AUTH TO DSND TO 4000 FT BUT OBVIOUSLY THAT WAS NOT IN THE CTLR'S MIND. I DID WHAT I COULD TO RECTIFY THE SIT ASAP.

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.

Single engine turboprop pilot deviates from assigned altitude in holding pattern after misinterping clearance in eri airspace.