Narrative:

Descent into wichita falls/sheppard AFB. First approach controller issued instructions to descend to 2100 ft. I was the PF, first officer was making before landing PA. So I was also working radios. I read back descent to 2100 ft. Shortly afterwards, we were handed off to second approach controller. When I checked on, I reiterated that we were descending to 2100 ft. The controller acknowledged my transmission. My first officer then returned to PNF duties. I informed him that we checked on with the new controller and that we were descending to 2100 ft. At about 2600 ft, the controller told us that the correct altitude was 3100 ft. We informed the controller that we were assigned 2100 ft by previous controller. Present controller said 3100 ft was correct altitude and that an altitude alert was received. We climbed to 3100 ft. The flight continued approach and landed without further incident. It is my understanding that sps is a training facility for military controllers. I believe the initial controller gave me an incorrect altitude and the second controller did not pick up on the error until I had descended below proper altitude and the alert was issued. I believe that future visits to sps will require me to be more vigilant towards instructions issued by these controllers who most likely have little experience. Furthermore, I will verify each altitude before descending to prevent these errors. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated the approach controller did not issue the standard altitude alert advisory, but only said that an alert was received and to climb back to 3100 ft. He said the area had unlimited visibility at the time.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SF340 CREW LNDG SPS WERE DSNDING TO 2100 FT, BUT CORRECTED BY CTLR TO CLB TO 3100 FT.

Narrative: DSCNT INTO WICHITA FALLS/SHEPPARD AFB. FIRST APCH CTLR ISSUED INSTRUCTIONS TO DSND TO 2100 FT. I WAS THE PF, FO WAS MAKING BEFORE LNDG PA. SO I WAS ALSO WORKING RADIOS. I READ BACK DSCNT TO 2100 FT. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, WE WERE HANDED OFF TO SECOND APCH CTLR. WHEN I CHKED ON, I REITERATED THAT WE WERE DSNDING TO 2100 FT. THE CTLR ACKNOWLEDGED MY XMISSION. MY FO THEN RETURNED TO PNF DUTIES. I INFORMED HIM THAT WE CHKED ON WITH THE NEW CTLR AND THAT WE WERE DSNDING TO 2100 FT. AT ABOUT 2600 FT, THE CTLR TOLD US THAT THE CORRECT ALT WAS 3100 FT. WE INFORMED THE CTLR THAT WE WERE ASSIGNED 2100 FT BY PREVIOUS CTLR. PRESENT CTLR SAID 3100 FT WAS CORRECT ALT AND THAT AN ALT ALERT WAS RECEIVED. WE CLBED TO 3100 FT. THE FLT CONTINUED APCH AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT SPS IS A TRAINING FACILITY FOR MIL CTLRS. I BELIEVE THE INITIAL CTLR GAVE ME AN INCORRECT ALT AND THE SECOND CTLR DID NOT PICK UP ON THE ERROR UNTIL I HAD DSNDED BELOW PROPER ALT AND THE ALERT WAS ISSUED. I BELIEVE THAT FUTURE VISITS TO SPS WILL REQUIRE ME TO BE MORE VIGILANT TOWARDS INSTRUCTIONS ISSUED BY THESE CTLRS WHO MOST LIKELY HAVE LITTLE EXPERIENCE. FURTHERMORE, I WILL VERIFY EACH ALT BEFORE DSNDING TO PREVENT THESE ERRORS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THE APCH CTLR DID NOT ISSUE THE STANDARD ALT ALERT ADVISORY, BUT ONLY SAID THAT AN ALERT WAS RECEIVED AND TO CLB BACK TO 3100 FT. HE SAID THE AREA HAD UNLIMITED VISIBILITY AT THE TIME.

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.