After frequency change the approach controller questioned the crew's descent.

Attributes
ACN	437082
Time
Date	199905
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : lax.vortac
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sct.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival star : pdz3
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 17500 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	437082
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 17000 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	437149
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllerb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Intra Facility Coordination Failure

Narrative:

On flight abc from bwi-lax, our original clearance was the civet 4 STAR to lax. About 200 mi from lax we were reclred direct tnp for the pdz 3 STAR to lax. Approaching tnp, we were cleared to descend via pdz 3 STAR to expect runway 25L. While on the arrival we were vectored off course for spacing approaching the trtle intersection. Following the vectors we were reclred 'direct pdz and descend for the approach for runway 25L.' the same controller was working us the whole time and we continued our descent and approach. While on the approach to runway 25L we were switched to the final controller between the gatte and hunda intxns. After checking in the final controller questioned why we had descended out of 8000 ft at fuelr since he said that was our clearance limit. We responded that the previous controller had cleared us for the pdz 3 arrival and approach to runway 25L. Nothing else was said until we were switched to tower. We were under the impression we had been cleared for the arrival/approach by the original controller, otherwise we would not have continued the approach. Either we misunderstood our clearance and/or there was a breakdown in communications between the controllers. Either way in the future we will reconfirm with the controller prior to commencing an approach to lax.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AFTER FREQ CHANGE THE APCH CTLR QUESTIONED THE CREW'S DSCNT.

Narrative: ON FLT ABC FROM BWI-LAX, OUR ORIGINAL CLRNC WAS THE CIVET 4 STAR TO LAX. ABOUT 200 MI FROM LAX WE WERE RECLRED DIRECT TNP FOR THE PDZ 3 STAR TO LAX. APCHING TNP, WE WERE CLRED TO DSND VIA PDZ 3 STAR TO EXPECT RWY 25L. WHILE ON THE ARR WE WERE VECTORED OFF COURSE FOR SPACING APCHING THE TRTLE INTXN. FOLLOWING THE VECTORS WE WERE RECLRED 'DIRECT PDZ AND DSND FOR THE APCH FOR RWY 25L.' THE SAME CTLR WAS WORKING US THE WHOLE TIME AND WE CONTINUED OUR DSCNT AND APCH. WHILE ON THE APCH TO RWY 25L WE WERE SWITCHED TO THE FINAL CTLR BTWN THE GATTE AND HUNDA INTXNS. AFTER CHKING IN THE FINAL CTLR QUESTIONED WHY WE HAD DSNDED OUT OF 8000 FT AT FUELR SINCE HE SAID THAT WAS OUR CLRNC LIMIT. WE RESPONDED THAT THE PREVIOUS CTLR HAD CLRED US FOR THE PDZ 3 ARR AND APCH TO RWY 25L. NOTHING ELSE WAS SAID UNTIL WE WERE SWITCHED TO TWR. WE WERE UNDER THE IMPRESSION WE HAD BEEN CLRED FOR THE ARR/APCH BY THE ORIGINAL CTLR, OTHERWISE WE WOULD NOT HAVE CONTINUED THE APCH. EITHER WE MISUNDERSTOOD OUR CLRNC AND/OR THERE WAS A BREAKDOWN IN COMS BTWN THE CTLRS. EITHER WAY IN THE FUTURE WE WILL RECONFIRM WITH THE CTLR PRIOR TO COMMENCING AN APCH TO LAX.

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.