Piper PA28 pilot during IFR flight descended below intermediate descent altitude during approach tra...

Attributes
ACN	558981
Time
Date	200208
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mor.airport
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : tys.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 55 flight time total : 2500 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	558981
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Environmental Factor Airspace Structure
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On an IFR flight plan, in clear WX, near the end of the flight, I was told by knoxville approach to descend to what I thought was 2000 ft MSL. Upon reaching 2500 ft, I thought that I was fairly low and was about to call knoxville approach for verification of assigned altitude. At that moment, knoxville approach called me reference 2500 ft. Controller said that I was supposed to be at 3000 ft. I mentioned that I was concerned about descending to 2000 ft and was just about to call for verification. Upon clarification, I apologized for misunderstanding the assigned altitude, stating that I thought it was 2000 ft. During this time, WX was clear, there was no other traffic (known), and no person or property was in danger.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PIPER PA28 PLT DURING IFR FLT DSNDED BELOW INTERMEDIATE DSCNT ALT DURING APCH TRANSITION.

Narrative: ON AN IFR FLT PLAN, IN CLR WX, NEAR THE END OF THE FLT, I WAS TOLD BY KNOXVILLE APCH TO DSND TO WHAT I THOUGHT WAS 2000 FT MSL. UPON REACHING 2500 FT, I THOUGHT THAT I WAS FAIRLY LOW AND WAS ABOUT TO CALL KNOXVILLE APCH FOR VERIFICATION OF ASSIGNED ALT. AT THAT MOMENT, KNOXVILLE APCH CALLED ME REF 2500 FT. CTLR SAID THAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AT 3000 FT. I MENTIONED THAT I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT DSNDING TO 2000 FT AND WAS JUST ABOUT TO CALL FOR VERIFICATION. UPON CLARIFICATION, I APOLOGIZED FOR MISUNDERSTANDING THE ASSIGNED ALT, STATING THAT I THOUGHT IT WAS 2000 FT. DURING THIS TIME, WX WAS CLR, THERE WAS NO OTHER TFC (KNOWN), AND NO PERSON OR PROPERTY WAS IN DANGER.

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.

Piper PA28 pilot during IFR flight descended below intermediate descent altitude during approach transition.