Reporter assumes he committed an altitude deviation.

Attributes
ACN	435540
Time
Date	199904
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ind.airport
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Turbulence
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ind.tracon tower : ind.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 119
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : 23r
Route In Use	approach : instrument precision
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 4700 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	435540
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Controller stated turn to 'heading, intercept the localizer, maintain 4000 ft till 'clapr,' contact tower at the marker.' we followed the directions. However, once inside 'clapr' we began a descent and at approximately 3500 ft we realized we had not been cleared for the approach, even though it was implied by the controller. We were on the GS and contacted the tower, at which time we requested and received clearance for the approach.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR ASSUMES HE COMMITTED AN ALTDEV.

Narrative: CTLR STATED TURN TO 'HDG, INTERCEPT THE LOC, MAINTAIN 4000 FT TILL 'CLAPR,' CONTACT TWR AT THE MARKER.' WE FOLLOWED THE DIRECTIONS. HOWEVER, ONCE INSIDE 'CLAPR' WE BEGAN A DSCNT AND AT APPROX 3500 FT WE REALIZED WE HAD NOT BEEN CLRED FOR THE APCH, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS IMPLIED BY THE CTLR. WE WERE ON THE GS AND CONTACTED THE TWR, AT WHICH TIME WE REQUESTED AND RECEIVED CLRNC FOR THE APCH.

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.