Narrative:

PIC was on an IFR flight for training. Upon completion of the first localizer back course instrument approach to runway 17, a low approach was requested, authority/authorized, and executed before a climb to 1000 ft MSL on runway 17 heading was commenced. After being cleared by tower to switch to approach, the switch was made and runway 17 heading and level at 1000 ft MSL reported. Approach acknowledged the report and directed a turn to 300 degrees which was acknowledged and executed. Upon completion of the turn to 300 degree magnetic heading, PIC reported steady-up 300 degrees magnetic heading and level 1000 ft MSL, which was acknowledged by approach. This was the first time PIC had ever recalled being turned to the west upon the completion of a localizer back course runway 17 instrument approach. PIC made the heading and altitude call because the localizer back course runway 17 instrument approach initial altitude is 1600 ft MSL and approach did not give an additional climb instruction upon directing a turn from runway heading. After approach acknowledged the 300 degree magnetic heading and level 1000 ft MSL call, PIC thought that approach was having PIC stay at 1000 ft MSL for a reason and PIC did not clarify if a higher altitude was required. A short time later approach informed PIC that PIC should be at 1600 ft MSL instead of the previously reported altitude of 1000 ft MSL. After the directed climb was executed the second localizer back course runway 17 instrument approach was authority/authorized and conducted. PIC should have followed his instincts and earlier verified with approach if approach wanted PIC at a higher altitude after the turn towards the west away from the runway heading of 170 degrees magnetic heading.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INST INSTRUCTOR LEVELED AT ALT BELOW ALT CALLED FOR ON MISSED APCH PROC. CTLR CAUGHT DEV AND ADVISED.

Narrative: PIC WAS ON AN IFR FLT FOR TRAINING. UPON COMPLETION OF THE FIRST LOC BACK COURSE INST APCH TO RWY 17, A LOW APCH WAS REQUESTED, AUTH, AND EXECUTED BEFORE A CLB TO 1000 FT MSL ON RWY 17 HDG WAS COMMENCED. AFTER BEING CLRED BY TWR TO SWITCH TO APCH, THE SWITCH WAS MADE AND RWY 17 HDG AND LEVEL AT 1000 FT MSL RPTED. APCH ACKNOWLEDGED THE RPT AND DIRECTED A TURN TO 300 DEGS WHICH WAS ACKNOWLEDGED AND EXECUTED. UPON COMPLETION OF THE TURN TO 300 DEG MAGNETIC HDG, PIC RPTED STEADY-UP 300 DEGS MAGNETIC HDG AND LEVEL 1000 FT MSL, WHICH WAS ACKNOWLEDGED BY APCH. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME PIC HAD EVER RECALLED BEING TURNED TO THE W UPON THE COMPLETION OF A LOC BACK COURSE RWY 17 INST APCH. PIC MADE THE HDG AND ALT CALL BECAUSE THE LOC BACK COURSE RWY 17 INST APCH INITIAL ALT IS 1600 FT MSL AND APCH DID NOT GIVE AN ADDITIONAL CLB INSTRUCTION UPON DIRECTING A TURN FROM RWY HDG. AFTER APCH ACKNOWLEDGED THE 300 DEG MAGNETIC HDG AND LEVEL 1000 FT MSL CALL, PIC THOUGHT THAT APCH WAS HAVING PIC STAY AT 1000 FT MSL FOR A REASON AND PIC DID NOT CLARIFY IF A HIGHER ALT WAS REQUIRED. A SHORT TIME LATER APCH INFORMED PIC THAT PIC SHOULD BE AT 1600 FT MSL INSTEAD OF THE PREVIOUSLY RPTED ALT OF 1000 FT MSL. AFTER THE DIRECTED CLB WAS EXECUTED THE SECOND LOC BACK COURSE RWY 17 INST APCH WAS AUTH AND CONDUCTED. PIC SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWED HIS INSTINCTS AND EARLIER VERIFIED WITH APCH IF APCH WANTED PIC AT A HIGHER ALT AFTER THE TURN TOWARDS THE W AWAY FROM THE RWY HDG OF 170 DEGS MAGNETIC HDG.

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.