A grumman AA5B pilot leaves his assigned IFR altitude, when cleared for a visual approach, and starts down using the VOR DME approach for an approach to F55, tx.

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Attributes
ACN	488450
Time
Date	200010
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : jen.vortac
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zfw.artcc tracon : n90.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cheetah, Tiger, Traveler
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 425 flight time type : 3
ASRS Report	488450
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented none taken : detected after the fact other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance Airspace Structure
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Approaching jen on the airway, I was cleared to descend from 7000 ft to 3000 ft, which is the MEA. At jen, I made my turn to intercept the 004 degree radial of the VOR DME approach. Shortly thereafter, the controller cleared me for the visual approach, 'report the field in sight.' at 11 DME, the stepdown fix, I began a descent to 1640 ft, the MDA. My mind was flying the VOR approach although my clearance was a visual approach and maintain 3000 ft. At about 2000 ft and 3-4 mi from the airport (elevation 640 ft), the controller said 'did you call the field? Because your last clearance was 3000 ft.' realizing my mistake, I quickly called the field in sight and canceled IFR. Because I was established on a published IFR approach when given the visual approach clearance, I was focused on flying the approach, and began the descent to MDA without notifying ATC. It might be helpful if ATC reminded the pilot to maintain an altitude when clearing for a visual approach while established on an IFR procedure.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A GRUMMAN AA5B PLT LEAVES HIS ASSIGNED IFR ALT, WHEN CLRED FOR A VISUAL APCH, AND STARTS DOWN USING THE VOR DME APCH FOR AN APCH TO F55, TX.

Narrative: APCHING JEN ON THE AIRWAY, I WAS CLRED TO DSND FROM 7000 FT TO 3000 FT, WHICH IS THE MEA. AT JEN, I MADE MY TURN TO INTERCEPT THE 004 DEG RADIAL OF THE VOR DME APCH. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE CTLR CLRED ME FOR THE VISUAL APCH, 'RPT THE FIELD IN SIGHT.' AT 11 DME, THE STEPDOWN FIX, I BEGAN A DSCNT TO 1640 FT, THE MDA. MY MIND WAS FLYING THE VOR APCH ALTHOUGH MY CLRNC WAS A VISUAL APCH AND MAINTAIN 3000 FT. AT ABOUT 2000 FT AND 3-4 MI FROM THE ARPT (ELEVATION 640 FT), THE CTLR SAID 'DID YOU CALL THE FIELD? BECAUSE YOUR LAST CLRNC WAS 3000 FT.' REALIZING MY MISTAKE, I QUICKLY CALLED THE FIELD IN SIGHT AND CANCELED IFR. BECAUSE I WAS ESTABLISHED ON A PUBLISHED IFR APCH WHEN GIVEN THE VISUAL APCH CLRNC, I WAS FOCUSED ON FLYING THE APCH, AND BEGAN THE DSCNT TO MDA WITHOUT NOTIFYING ATC. IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL IF ATC REMINDED THE PLT TO MAINTAIN AN ALT WHEN CLRING FOR A VISUAL APCH WHILE ESTABLISHED ON AN IFR PROC.

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.