T38 crew left assigned altitude, assuming they were cleared for the approach -- they were not.

Attributes
ACN	496310
Time
Date	200012
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : efd.airport
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 14000 msl bound upper : 16000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zhu.artcc tracon : i90.tracon
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Talon
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other Other
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	496310
Person 2
Affiliation	government other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Descent to efd (home airport) cleared by ZHU to 'cross candi IAF at 16000 ft.' this is normally (at least 50 times for me) followed by switching to approach control and approach clearance receipt. This time I had not been switched to approach control and had not been cleared for approach (hi -- ILS runway 35 efd). Upon reaching candi, I called leaving 16000 ft (just like I always do), forgetting I had not received approach clearance. Center sent me to approach frequency, but made no correction to my calling out of 16000 ft. Approach then admonished me for commencing approach and descent without clearance. I was about 14000 ft by then. They then gave further vectors (7000 ft and 150 degrees) and I apologized, realizing my error. The primary culprit here is complacency and over-familiarity with the scenario. I need to be more alert to the unexpected.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: T38 CREW LEFT ASSIGNED ALT, ASSUMING THEY WERE CLRED FOR THE APCH -- THEY WERE NOT.

Narrative: DSCNT TO EFD (HOME ARPT) CLRED BY ZHU TO 'CROSS CANDI IAF AT 16000 FT.' THIS IS NORMALLY (AT LEAST 50 TIMES FOR ME) FOLLOWED BY SWITCHING TO APCH CTL AND APCH CLRNC RECEIPT. THIS TIME I HAD NOT BEEN SWITCHED TO APCH CTL AND HAD NOT BEEN CLRED FOR APCH (HI -- ILS RWY 35 EFD). UPON REACHING CANDI, I CALLED LEAVING 16000 FT (JUST LIKE I ALWAYS DO), FORGETTING I HAD NOT RECEIVED APCH CLRNC. CTR SENT ME TO APCH FREQ, BUT MADE NO CORRECTION TO MY CALLING OUT OF 16000 FT. APCH THEN ADMONISHED ME FOR COMMENCING APCH AND DSCNT WITHOUT CLRNC. I WAS ABOUT 14000 FT BY THEN. THEY THEN GAVE FURTHER VECTORS (7000 FT AND 150 DEGS) AND I APOLOGIZED, REALIZING MY ERROR. THE PRIMARY CULPRIT HERE IS COMPLACENCY AND OVER-FAMILIARITY WITH THE SCENARIO. I NEED TO BE MORE ALERT TO THE UNEXPECTED.

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.