Air taxi operator cleared to intercept localizer, cleared for approach. Descended, ATC said not clea...

Attributes
ACN	121090
Time
Date	198908
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : cps
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : stl
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : straight in
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100
ASRS Report	121090
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : nmac non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Cleared to 3000' MSL to intercept localizer, cleared for the approach, so I descended to the published MEA altitude for the ILS into cps. Approach called and said that I wasn't cleared out of 3000' MSL.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AIR TAXI OPERATOR CLEARED TO INTERCEPT LOCALIZER, CLEARED FOR APCH. DESCENDED, ATC SAID NOT CLEARED OUT OF 3000'.

Narrative: CLRED TO 3000' MSL TO INTERCEPT LOC, CLRED FOR THE APCH, SO I DSNDED TO THE PUBLISHED MEA ALT FOR THE ILS INTO CPS. APCH CALLED AND SAID THAT I WASN'T CLRED OUT OF 3000' MSL.

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.

Air taxi operator cleared to intercept localizer, cleared for approach. Descended, ATC said not cleared out of 3000'.