A citation X inbound to sdm from mexico was cleared to an unsafe low altitude.

Attributes
ACN	711043
Time
Date	200609
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sdm.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 4700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sct.tracon
Operator	common carrier : charter
Make Model Name	Citation X
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : charter government : faa
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 3600
ASRS Report	711043
Person 2
Affiliation	company : charter
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : multi engine pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 350
ASRS Report	711044
Events
Anomaly	other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

During arrival into sdm from mazatlan center (mexico) at 8000 ft direct to tij VOR; we were given handoff to socal approach. Upon check in approach instructed us to turn right to 350 degrees and descend to 2600 ft. He added he could not give us lower until north of mexican border. PNF read back heading and altitude change; confirmed with PF; and reset altitude select while PF changed heading bug. During descent through 4700 ft crew noticed heading and altitude was placing us close to terrain. PF began to reduce climb rate and PNF attempted to contact approach. At this time crew heard transmission on frequency 'air carrier X...oh my bad.' this was followed by a call from controller to verify altitude and turn left to 270 degrees; gave us terrain warning and another turn to 240 degrees. Finally issued a climb to 5000 ft. We informed controller we were clear of terrain and confirmed 5000 ft and had sdm in sight. Epgws never went off; no other aircraft were involved and at no time was safety of flight in question.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CITATION X INBOUND TO SDM FROM MEXICO WAS CLRED TO AN UNSAFE LOW ALT.

Narrative: DURING ARR INTO SDM FROM MAZATLAN CTR (MEXICO) AT 8000 FT DIRECT TO TIJ VOR; WE WERE GIVEN HDOF TO SOCAL APCH. UPON CHK IN APCH INSTRUCTED US TO TURN R TO 350 DEGS AND DSND TO 2600 FT. HE ADDED HE COULD NOT GIVE US LOWER UNTIL N OF MEXICAN BORDER. PNF READ BACK HDG AND ALT CHANGE; CONFIRMED WITH PF; AND RESET ALT SELECT WHILE PF CHANGED HDG BUG. DURING DSCNT THROUGH 4700 FT CREW NOTICED HDG AND ALT WAS PLACING US CLOSE TO TERRAIN. PF BEGAN TO REDUCE CLB RATE AND PNF ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT APCH. AT THIS TIME CREW HEARD XMISSION ON FREQ 'ACR X...OH MY BAD.' THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A CALL FROM CTLR TO VERIFY ALT AND TURN L TO 270 DEGS; GAVE US TERRAIN WARNING AND ANOTHER TURN TO 240 DEGS. FINALLY ISSUED A CLB TO 5000 FT. WE INFORMED CTLR WE WERE CLR OF TERRAIN AND CONFIRMED 5000 FT AND HAD SDM IN SIGHT. EPGWS NEVER WENT OFF; NO OTHER ACFT WERE INVOLVED AND AT NO TIME WAS SAFETY OF FLT IN QUESTION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.