Air carrier given clearance to descend to an altitude below MEA and MVA.

Attributes
ACN	81592
Time
Date	198801
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bld
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 14000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : las artcc : zbw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 3920
ASRS Report	81592
Person 2
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We were on J110 inbound to bld VOR from the west descending to 17000' planning to cross ashby intersection at 15000'. Switched lax center to las approach control. I told las we were descending to 17000'. Controller said, 'radar contact descended to 8000'.' as a crew we discussed the high terrain visible all around us. (Cavu) we noted the las sector altitude of 13000' and MEA of 14000' on the las arrival. Las approach asked us to verify altitude and I said 13300'. Las approach said, 'I thought I clrd you to 14000'. I replied, 'you clrd us to 8000'. Las approach told us to maintain 13000'. Normal visual approach made to runway 26 las. At the time we were clrd to 8000' our position was 74 mi wnw of bld VOR on J110. We were clrd below MEA and terrain altitude.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR GIVEN CLRNC TO DESCEND TO AN ALT BELOW MEA AND MVA.

Narrative: WE WERE ON J110 INBND TO BLD VOR FROM THE W DSNDING TO 17000' PLANNING TO CROSS ASHBY INTXN AT 15000'. SWITCHED LAX CENTER TO LAS APCH CTL. I TOLD LAS WE WERE DSNDING TO 17000'. CTLR SAID, 'RADAR CONTACT DESCENDED TO 8000'.' AS A CREW WE DISCUSSED THE HIGH TERRAIN VISIBLE ALL AROUND US. (CAVU) WE NOTED THE LAS SECTOR ALT OF 13000' AND MEA OF 14000' ON THE LAS ARR. LAS APCH ASKED US TO VERIFY ALT AND I SAID 13300'. LAS APCH SAID, 'I THOUGHT I CLRD YOU TO 14000'. I REPLIED, 'YOU CLRD US TO 8000'. LAS APCH TOLD US TO MAINTAIN 13000'. NORMAL VISUAL APCH MADE TO RWY 26 LAS. AT THE TIME WE WERE CLRD TO 8000' OUR POS WAS 74 MI WNW OF BLD VOR ON J110. WE WERE CLRD BELOW MEA AND TERRAIN ALT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.