Air carrier landing at msp; cleared for visual approach departed class B and is challenged by ATC.

Attributes
ACN	748046
Time
Date	200708
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : m98.tracon
State Reference	MN
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : msp.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival star : eau
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	748046
Person 2
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We followed ATC instructions as they were issued. Flight was cleared to msp via the eau.EAU8 arrival. Prior to eau; ATC reclred direct to bitlr intersection; wildd one arrival; press transition; descend to 4000 ft (from 9000 ft). Prior to reaching press and after reaching bitlr; msp approach issued the following clearance; 'cleared direct to narco; do you have the field in sight?' we replied yes. Approach then said 'cleared direct narco; cleared visual approach runway 30L; keep your speed up.' we were level at 4000 ft; and the PF began a slow descent to 3000 ft; as that is the published crossing altitude at narco for the GS. At approximately 3600 ft; msp approach stated 'FYI; clearance for a visual approach does not constitute a departure from class B airspace.' we reduced speed to 200 KTS; and continued the approach. ATC notified us. Speed was slowed. Maintain last ATC altitude until on published section of an approach. Decline all visual approachs.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LNDG AT MSP; CLRED FOR VISUAL APCH DEPARTED CLASS B AND IS CHALLENGED BY ATC.

Narrative: WE FOLLOWED ATC INSTRUCTIONS AS THEY WERE ISSUED. FLT WAS CLRED TO MSP VIA THE EAU.EAU8 ARR. PRIOR TO EAU; ATC RECLRED DIRECT TO BITLR INTXN; WILDD ONE ARR; PRESS TRANSITION; DSND TO 4000 FT (FROM 9000 FT). PRIOR TO REACHING PRESS AND AFTER REACHING BITLR; MSP APCH ISSUED THE FOLLOWING CLRNC; 'CLRED DIRECT TO NARCO; DO YOU HAVE THE FIELD IN SIGHT?' WE REPLIED YES. APCH THEN SAID 'CLRED DIRECT NARCO; CLRED VISUAL APCH RWY 30L; KEEP YOUR SPD UP.' WE WERE LEVEL AT 4000 FT; AND THE PF BEGAN A SLOW DSCNT TO 3000 FT; AS THAT IS THE PUBLISHED XING ALT AT NARCO FOR THE GS. AT APPROX 3600 FT; MSP APCH STATED 'FYI; CLRNC FOR A VISUAL APCH DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A DEP FROM CLASS B AIRSPACE.' WE REDUCED SPD TO 200 KTS; AND CONTINUED THE APCH. ATC NOTIFIED US. SPD WAS SLOWED. MAINTAIN LAST ATC ALT UNTIL ON PUBLISHED SECTION OF AN APCH. DECLINE ALL VISUAL APCHS.

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.