Narrative:

When handed over to the ast sector (sea ARTCC), we continued to have problems receiving center xmissions, which we advised them of. (No problems receiving was encountered with previous sectors.) we tried both communication radios. Past ilwac intersection, we were cleared for the ILS 26 approach into ast. We were in IMC conditions at that time and were negative DME. We started our times at ilwac and proceeded inbound on V112 (from the north). We asked center if they wanted us to climb from 3000 to 4300', which was the approach altitude because we knew there is high terrain south of the airport. We received no response. We broke out into VFR conditions with negative contact of the airport. Our time showed that we should be nearly over the airport (and VOR) and decided because of terrain we should begin our climb to 4300' (we had been cleared for the approach). We climbed to the approach altitude of 4300'. 1 min later, ZSE queried us: '..U altitude?' (almost unreadable). Xyu: 'xyu is at 4300.' ZSE: '..U...initial ap...fix.' xyu: 'ZSE, you are unreadable for xyu. We are VMC and will cancel IFR and proceed with the approach MVFR conditions.' ZSE: 'X...1200 frequency...day.' xyu: 'xyu squawking 1200, good day.' we proceeded with the approach and had no problem talking with the traffic at ast. When looking at the approach plate, there is an iae on vector 27 19 mi out. It is for the DME arc or the 328 degree right and it requires an altitude of 4000' MSL. We were on vector 112, 280 degree right. The only IAF from our arwy is at the NDB (kasper 201 pen), and it requires a crossing altitude of 4300' outbnd for terrain clearance. We began our climb outside the VOR instead of waiting. We thought we were close to crossing it. We later figured we had a 20 KT headwind, instead of the calm winds that were reported at our altitude. Ast is not a busy airport and center had cleared us for the approach 15 mi out. Center should have given us a higher altitude then. We asked center for higher when we expected to get it, but we didn't receive a response. We climbed because we thought the approach clearance was a clearance to the approach altitude since it was higher than our en route altitude.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RADIO COM PROBLEM. RADIO CONTACT INTERMITTENT AND SMA PLT UNABLE TO VERIFY REQUESTED CHANGE OF ALT.

Narrative: WHEN HANDED OVER TO THE AST SECTOR (SEA ARTCC), WE CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBS RECEIVING CENTER XMISSIONS, WHICH WE ADVISED THEM OF. (NO PROBS RECEIVING WAS ENCOUNTERED WITH PREVIOUS SECTORS.) WE TRIED BOTH COM RADIOS. PAST ILWAC INTXN, WE WERE CLRED FOR THE ILS 26 APCH INTO AST. WE WERE IN IMC CONDITIONS AT THAT TIME AND WERE NEGATIVE DME. WE STARTED OUR TIMES AT ILWAC AND PROCEEDED INBND ON V112 (FROM THE N). WE ASKED CENTER IF THEY WANTED US TO CLB FROM 3000 TO 4300', WHICH WAS THE APCH ALT BECAUSE WE KNEW THERE IS HIGH TERRAIN S OF THE ARPT. WE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. WE BROKE OUT INTO VFR CONDITIONS WITH NEGATIVE CONTACT OF THE ARPT. OUR TIME SHOWED THAT WE SHOULD BE NEARLY OVER THE ARPT (AND VOR) AND DECIDED BECAUSE OF TERRAIN WE SHOULD BEGIN OUR CLB TO 4300' (WE HAD BEEN CLRED FOR THE APCH). WE CLBED TO THE APCH ALT OF 4300'. 1 MIN LATER, ZSE QUERIED US: '..U ALT?' (ALMOST UNREADABLE). XYU: 'XYU IS AT 4300.' ZSE: '..U...INITIAL AP...FIX.' XYU: 'ZSE, YOU ARE UNREADABLE FOR XYU. WE ARE VMC AND WILL CANCEL IFR AND PROCEED WITH THE APCH MVFR CONDITIONS.' ZSE: 'X...1200 FREQ...DAY.' XYU: 'XYU SQUAWKING 1200, GOOD DAY.' WE PROCEEDED WITH THE APCH AND HAD NO PROB TALKING WITH THE TFC AT AST. WHEN LOOKING AT THE APCH PLATE, THERE IS AN IAE ON VECTOR 27 19 MI OUT. IT IS FOR THE DME ARC OR THE 328 DEG R AND IT REQUIRES AN ALT OF 4000' MSL. WE WERE ON VECTOR 112, 280 DEG R. THE ONLY IAF FROM OUR ARWY IS AT THE NDB (KASPER 201 PEN), AND IT REQUIRES A XING ALT OF 4300' OUTBND FOR TERRAIN CLRNC. WE BEGAN OUR CLB OUTSIDE THE VOR INSTEAD OF WAITING. WE THOUGHT WE WERE CLOSE TO XING IT. WE LATER FIGURED WE HAD A 20 KT HEADWIND, INSTEAD OF THE CALM WINDS THAT WERE RPTED AT OUR ALT. AST IS NOT A BUSY ARPT AND CENTER HAD CLRED US FOR THE APCH 15 MI OUT. CENTER SHOULD HAVE GIVEN US A HIGHER ALT THEN. WE ASKED CENTER FOR HIGHER WHEN WE EXPECTED TO GET IT, BUT WE DIDN'T RECEIVE A RESPONSE. WE CLBED BECAUSE WE THOUGHT THE APCH CLRNC WAS A CLRNC TO THE APCH ALT SINCE IT WAS HIGHER THAN OUR ENRTE ALT.

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