Small transport descends below minimum terrain clearance altitude.

Attributes
ACN	122677
Time
Date	198909
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pgs
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8300 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 2650 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	122677
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : far other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On J72 east of peach springs VOR, I was cleared for descent from FL260 to 9000' MSL. Moment later, during the descent, I was cleared to cross peach springs at 9000' and I acknowledged. Then I was further cleared to cross peach springs at 9000' with discretion to 6000'. While descending through 8300' the controller advised me that I was below minimum terrain clearance altitude, and asked me to return to 9000'.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMT DESCENDS BELOW MINIMUM TERRAIN CLRNC ALT.

Narrative: ON J72 E OF PEACH SPRINGS VOR, I WAS CLRED FOR DSCNT FROM FL260 TO 9000' MSL. MOMENT LATER, DURING THE DSCNT, I WAS CLRED TO CROSS PEACH SPRINGS AT 9000' AND I ACKNOWLEDGED. THEN I WAS FURTHER CLRED TO CROSS PEACH SPRINGS AT 9000' WITH DISCRETION TO 6000'. WHILE DSNDING THROUGH 8300' THE CTLR ADVISED ME THAT I WAS BELOW MINIMUM TERRAIN CLRNC ALT, AND ASKED ME TO RETURN TO 9000'.

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.