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A private instrument rated pilot flying a PA32 from orf to ecg became distraction when given a different approach clearance than what was expected and descended below his assigned altitude.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 440146 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199906 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : ecg.airport |
| State Reference | NC |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 3000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : orf.tracon |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach descent : intermediate altitude |
| Route In Use | approach : instrument non precision |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : private |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 45 flight time total : 820 flight time type : 225 |
| ASRS Report | 440146 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : far |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued advisory |
| Consequence | faa : investigated |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
I was returning from orf to ecg on an IFR flight plan in IMC. I was expecting to be set up for an approach on runway 1 which was the favored (reported wind 030 degrees at 14 KTS) but instead was being setup for runway 19. The controller cleared me to intercept the approach course. I asked at that time if I was cleared for a lower altitude and he responded cleared to intercept approach course. I took this to mean I was cleared down to 700 ft and controller called when I was at 2500 ft and said I was not cleared to deviate from 3000 ft. It was clearly my mistake in deviating from the 3000 ft altitude as a lower altitude was not given by the controller. The factors that led to this were being busy in the cockpit with an approach that was not the one expect. Also, lack of IFR experience was a factor, as I have only had my IFR rating about 6 months.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A PVT INST RATED PLT FLYING A PA32 FROM ORF TO ECG BECAME DISTR WHEN GIVEN A DIFFERENT APCH CLRNC THAN WHAT WAS EXPECTED AND DSNDED BELOW HIS ASSIGNED ALT.
Narrative: I WAS RETURNING FROM ORF TO ECG ON AN IFR FLT PLAN IN IMC. I WAS EXPECTING TO BE SET UP FOR AN APCH ON RWY 1 WHICH WAS THE FAVORED (RPTED WIND 030 DEGS AT 14 KTS) BUT INSTEAD WAS BEING SETUP FOR RWY 19. THE CTLR CLRED ME TO INTERCEPT THE APCH COURSE. I ASKED AT THAT TIME IF I WAS CLRED FOR A LOWER ALT AND HE RESPONDED CLRED TO INTERCEPT APCH COURSE. I TOOK THIS TO MEAN I WAS CLRED DOWN TO 700 FT AND CTLR CALLED WHEN I WAS AT 2500 FT AND SAID I WAS NOT CLRED TO DEVIATE FROM 3000 FT. IT WAS CLRLY MY MISTAKE IN DEVIATING FROM THE 3000 FT ALT AS A LOWER ALT WAS NOT GIVEN BY THE CTLR. THE FACTORS THAT LED TO THIS WERE BEING BUSY IN THE COCKPIT WITH AN APCH THAT WAS NOT THE ONE EXPECT. ALSO, LACK OF IFR EXPERIENCE WAS A FACTOR, AS I HAVE ONLY HAD MY IFR RATING ABOUT 6 MONTHS.
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.