CRJ200 flight crew deviates from assigned altitude during approach to orh.

Attributes
ACN	521550
Time
Date	200108
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : dunca
State Reference	MA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2600 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Regional Jet 200 ER&LR
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude descent : holding
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 130 flight time total : 2300 flight time type : 335
ASRS Report	521550
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
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:

While holding at dunca on the ILS runway 11 approach course at orh, ATC and crew had a miscom on the holding altitude. ATC cleared us to hold as published at dunca at 3000 ft. As we started to enter the hold, ATC then stated again 'hold as published at dunca, 2600 ft.' we descended to 2600 ft and ATC inquired about our altitude. ATC had us climb back to 3000 ft stating the number 2600 ft in the second clearance was for the current RVR on the field, not an altitude. No further action was requested nor taken.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CRJ200 FLT CREW DEVIATES FROM ASSIGNED ALT DURING APCH TO ORH.

Narrative: WHILE HOLDING AT DUNCA ON THE ILS RWY 11 APCH COURSE AT ORH, ATC AND CREW HAD A MISCOM ON THE HOLDING ALT. ATC CLRED US TO HOLD AS PUBLISHED AT DUNCA AT 3000 FT. AS WE STARTED TO ENTER THE HOLD, ATC THEN STATED AGAIN 'HOLD AS PUBLISHED AT DUNCA, 2600 FT.' WE DSNDED TO 2600 FT AND ATC INQUIRED ABOUT OUR ALT. ATC HAD US CLB BACK TO 3000 FT STATING THE NUMBER 2600 FT IN THE SECOND CLRNC WAS FOR THE CURRENT RVR ON THE FIELD, NOT AN ALT. NO FURTHER ACTION WAS REQUESTED NOR TAKEN.

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.