Narrative:

I was the PNF on the crew as we were flying to a non-radar destination where the WX was 800 ft ceilings with 2 mi visibility. ATC informed us to expect holding until it was our turn for the ILS approach. We were given clearance to descend from flight level to 6000 ft and join the arc, which is the transition to the ILS approach. During the descent, we were told to maintain 3000 ft on the arc. This is what we expected, and on other days, it would have meant we were #2 for the approach. We expected to hold at 3000 ft at the IAF of the procedure turn, and then be cleared for the approach when we would descend and intercept the glide path. Just as we were about to begin the lead turn to the arc, we were at 6000 ft still on a descent profile to 3000 ft. ATC called and said our clearance had been to join the arc at and maintain 3000 ft on the arc. We asked for immediate clearance to hold at the fix we were over. The hold was granted at 6000 ft. We held at 6000 ft, and were told now we would be #4 for the approach. The rest of the approach and the landing were uneventful. I feel the main factor contributing to this problem was our expectations based on past experiences. We thought we knew what would happen, so we interpreted a clearance to fit with our past experience. Familiarity is helpful, but it can lull one into a false sense of control at times. I'll be more alert to its dangers -- especially at the fields we frequent most, and especially on the second or third time to a field on the same day. It will be another note added to my approach briefing.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF B7323 MISINTERPED ZAN CLRNC TO INTERCEPT THE ARC AT AND MAINTAIN 3000 FT ON AN ARC TRANSITION TO THE ILS RWY 18 AT PABE. WHEN THEY INTERCEPTED, THEY WERE STILL AT 6000 FT, AND HAD TO HOLD FOR OTHER TFC BEFORE CONTINUING THE APCH.

Narrative: I WAS THE PNF ON THE CREW AS WE WERE FLYING TO A NON-RADAR DEST WHERE THE WX WAS 800 FT CEILINGS WITH 2 MI VISIBILITY. ATC INFORMED US TO EXPECT HOLDING UNTIL IT WAS OUR TURN FOR THE ILS APCH. WE WERE GIVEN CLRNC TO DSND FROM FLT LEVEL TO 6000 FT AND JOIN THE ARC, WHICH IS THE TRANSITION TO THE ILS APCH. DURING THE DSCNT, WE WERE TOLD TO MAINTAIN 3000 FT ON THE ARC. THIS IS WHAT WE EXPECTED, AND ON OTHER DAYS, IT WOULD HAVE MEANT WE WERE #2 FOR THE APCH. WE EXPECTED TO HOLD AT 3000 FT AT THE IAF OF THE PROC TURN, AND THEN BE CLRED FOR THE APCH WHEN WE WOULD DSND AND INTERCEPT THE GLIDE PATH. JUST AS WE WERE ABOUT TO BEGIN THE LEAD TURN TO THE ARC, WE WERE AT 6000 FT STILL ON A DSCNT PROFILE TO 3000 FT. ATC CALLED AND SAID OUR CLRNC HAD BEEN TO JOIN THE ARC AT AND MAINTAIN 3000 FT ON THE ARC. WE ASKED FOR IMMEDIATE CLRNC TO HOLD AT THE FIX WE WERE OVER. THE HOLD WAS GRANTED AT 6000 FT. WE HELD AT 6000 FT, AND WERE TOLD NOW WE WOULD BE #4 FOR THE APCH. THE REST OF THE APCH AND THE LNDG WERE UNEVENTFUL. I FEEL THE MAIN FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THIS PROB WAS OUR EXPECTATIONS BASED ON PAST EXPERIENCES. WE THOUGHT WE KNEW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN, SO WE INTERPRETED A CLRNC TO FIT WITH OUR PAST EXPERIENCE. FAMILIARITY IS HELPFUL, BUT IT CAN LULL ONE INTO A FALSE SENSE OF CTL AT TIMES. I'LL BE MORE ALERT TO ITS DANGERS -- ESPECIALLY AT THE FIELDS WE FREQUENT MOST, AND ESPECIALLY ON THE SECOND OR THIRD TIME TO A FIELD ON THE SAME DAY. IT WILL BE ANOTHER NOTE ADDED TO MY APCH BRIEFING.

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.