A BE1900 flight crew misinterps the approach chart in reading the initial approach altitude required...

Attributes
ACN	506667
Time
Date	200103
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : lar.vortac
State Reference	WY
Altitude	msl single value : 9700
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Snow Fog Turbulence
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv.artcc artcc : ztl.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Beech 1900
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	landing : go around landing : missed approach
Route In Use	approach : instrument non precision
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 270 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 2200
ASRS Report	506667
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance Chart Or Publication Airspace Structure
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After going missed approach on the VOR/DME 30 into lar, we entered the hold over the lar VOR as published. Shortly thereafter, while maintaining the missed approach altitude of 9700 ft MSL, we were 'cleared for an approach into lar.' we chose to execute the VOR/DME 30 approach after re-crossing the lar VOR. As we proceeded outbound on the lar R112 degree radial, I asked the first officer what altitude we could descend to. He looked at the approach chart and advised me that we were to proceed outbound on the lar 112 degree radial until reaching the 11 DME fix, at which point we could descend to 10600 ft MSL. Being that we were still at 9700 ft MSL, I questioned the center controller of what altitude we were to maintain for the approach. He responded that we were to derive our own altitude from reading the approach chart for the VOR/DME 30 approach into lar. We misunderstood the instructions we were issued when 'cleared for an approach into lar.' we were under the impression that we were to maintain 9700 ft until established on the approach. After becoming aware of the misunderstanding, we immediately climbed to 10600 ft MSL and continued on the approach into lar without further incident. Cause of problem: lack of communication between crew and ATC and also between myself and the other crew member. To correct the situation: require specific altitude to be maintained after going missed approach to be verified by both crews and ATC.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BE1900 FLC MISINTERPS THE APCH CHART IN READING THE INITIAL APCH ALT REQUIRED FROM THE HOLDING PATTERN ALT FOR ANOTHER APCH INTO LAR, WY.

Narrative: AFTER GOING MISSED APCH ON THE VOR/DME 30 INTO LAR, WE ENTERED THE HOLD OVER THE LAR VOR AS PUBLISHED. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WHILE MAINTAINING THE MISSED APCH ALT OF 9700 FT MSL, WE WERE 'CLRED FOR AN APCH INTO LAR.' WE CHOSE TO EXECUTE THE VOR/DME 30 APCH AFTER RE-XING THE LAR VOR. AS WE PROCEEDED OUTBOUND ON THE LAR R112 DEG RADIAL, I ASKED THE FO WHAT ALT WE COULD DSND TO. HE LOOKED AT THE APCH CHART AND ADVISED ME THAT WE WERE TO PROCEED OUTBOUND ON THE LAR 112 DEG RADIAL UNTIL REACHING THE 11 DME FIX, AT WHICH POINT WE COULD DSND TO 10600 FT MSL. BEING THAT WE WERE STILL AT 9700 FT MSL, I QUESTIONED THE CTR CTLR OF WHAT ALT WE WERE TO MAINTAIN FOR THE APCH. HE RESPONDED THAT WE WERE TO DERIVE OUR OWN ALT FROM READING THE APCH CHART FOR THE VOR/DME 30 APCH INTO LAR. WE MISUNDERSTOOD THE INSTRUCTIONS WE WERE ISSUED WHEN 'CLRED FOR AN APCH INTO LAR.' WE WERE UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT WE WERE TO MAINTAIN 9700 FT UNTIL ESTABLISHED ON THE APCH. AFTER BECOMING AWARE OF THE MISUNDERSTANDING, WE IMMEDIATELY CLBED TO 10600 FT MSL AND CONTINUED ON THE APCH INTO LAR WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. CAUSE OF PROB: LACK OF COM BTWN CREW AND ATC AND ALSO BTWN MYSELF AND THE OTHER CREW MEMBER. TO CORRECT THE SIT: REQUIRE SPECIFIC ALT TO BE MAINTAINED AFTER GOING MISSED APCH TO BE VERIFIED BY BOTH CREWS AND ATC.

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.

A BE1900 flight crew misinterps the approach chart in reading the initial approach altitude required from the holding pattern altitude for another approach into lar, wy.