Narrative:

As captain, I was flying the aircraft on a vector to a visual approach to tys. We were cleared to descend to 2500 ft MSL. Upon breaking out of the clouds at approximately 4500 ft, the controller asked if we had the field and asked if we could get down in time. We said we could not (vector had us very close to the approach end of the runway). We were cleared to turn left to get room to descend for a visual approach. As I was about 90 degrees through the turn, picking up the runway over my left shoulder, the first officer said 'level at 2500 ft.' I had already reached and was passing 2500 ft in a shallow descent and continued left turn. I had the runway and the first officer asked for and received final clearance for the visual. Descent and landing were without incident or conflict. Supplemental information from acn 416361: leveled off 360 ft below assigned altitude (2200 ft MSL). Visual approach clearance was issued immediately following altitude deviation. The cause of this situation was a lack of proper planning and captain inexperience in aircraft. In the future, I will offer assistance and planning information, as well as aircraft control, to all PF's (when acting as PNF).

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B727 DSNDING INTO TYS, TN, DSNDS BELOW ASSIGNED ALT JUST BEFORE BEING CLRED FOR A VISUAL APCH.

Narrative: AS CAPT, I WAS FLYING THE ACFT ON A VECTOR TO A VISUAL APCH TO TYS. WE WERE CLRED TO DSND TO 2500 FT MSL. UPON BREAKING OUT OF THE CLOUDS AT APPROX 4500 FT, THE CTLR ASKED IF WE HAD THE FIELD AND ASKED IF WE COULD GET DOWN IN TIME. WE SAID WE COULD NOT (VECTOR HAD US VERY CLOSE TO THE APCH END OF THE RWY). WE WERE CLRED TO TURN L TO GET ROOM TO DSND FOR A VISUAL APCH. AS I WAS ABOUT 90 DEGS THROUGH THE TURN, PICKING UP THE RWY OVER MY L SHOULDER, THE FO SAID 'LEVEL AT 2500 FT.' I HAD ALREADY REACHED AND WAS PASSING 2500 FT IN A SHALLOW DSCNT AND CONTINUED L TURN. I HAD THE RWY AND THE FO ASKED FOR AND RECEIVED FINAL CLRNC FOR THE VISUAL. DSCNT AND LNDG WERE WITHOUT INCIDENT OR CONFLICT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 416361: LEVELED OFF 360 FT BELOW ASSIGNED ALT (2200 FT MSL). VISUAL APCH CLRNC WAS ISSUED IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING ALTDEV. THE CAUSE OF THIS SIT WAS A LACK OF PROPER PLANNING AND CAPT INEXPERIENCE IN ACFT. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL OFFER ASSISTANCE AND PLANNING INFO, AS WELL AS ACFT CTL, TO ALL PF'S (WHEN ACTING AS PNF).

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.