Narrative:

On a heading of 215 degrees, direct to paradise VOR, we were cleared to intercept the lax VOR 068 degree right and the reedr 2 approach to cross civet at or above 14000' and baset at 10000' and 250 KTS. The clearance to cross baset at 10000' led us to believe that the next expected crossing at reedr was forthcoming at basit. Since the words 'cross at 10M and maintain 20M' were not used for clarification of the controller's intent, an erroneous assumption was made by the captain to descend to 8000' by reedr and directed the descent. Having passed baset, the first officer was expecting this clearance and began the descent, confirming from the chart that the crossing at was at 8M. At 15 DME, approach cleared us to 8M, as we were about to level at 8M, 5 DME to reedr. The controller explained that we were not to descend out of 10M until down 15 DME; however, this is not depicted on the chart, nor did we know of his intentions at baset. The problem was discussed with the watch supervisor. The crew talked to TRACON and agreed that the clearance at reedr is expected clearance only.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF WDB CROSSED REEDR INTXN AT 8000', BUT HAD ONLY BEEN CLEARED TO 10000'.

Narrative: ON A HDG OF 215 DEGS, DIRECT TO PARADISE VOR, WE WERE CLRED TO INTERCEPT THE LAX VOR 068 DEG R AND THE REEDR 2 APCH TO CROSS CIVET AT OR ABOVE 14000' AND BASET AT 10000' AND 250 KTS. THE CLRNC TO CROSS BASET AT 10000' LED US TO BELIEVE THAT THE NEXT EXPECTED XING AT REEDR WAS FORTHCOMING AT BASIT. SINCE THE WORDS 'CROSS AT 10M AND MAINTAIN 20M' WERE NOT USED FOR CLARIFICATION OF THE CTLR'S INTENT, AN ERRONEOUS ASSUMPTION WAS MADE BY THE CAPT TO DSND TO 8000' BY REEDR AND DIRECTED THE DSNT. HAVING PASSED BASET, THE F/O WAS EXPECTING THIS CLRNC AND BEGAN THE DSNT, CONFIRMING FROM THE CHART THAT THE XING AT WAS AT 8M. AT 15 DME, APCH CLRED US TO 8M, AS WE WERE ABOUT TO LEVEL AT 8M, 5 DME TO REEDR. THE CTLR EXPLAINED THAT WE WERE NOT TO DSND OUT OF 10M UNTIL DOWN 15 DME; HOWEVER, THIS IS NOT DEPICTED ON THE CHART, NOR DID WE KNOW OF HIS INTENTIONS AT BASET. THE PROB WAS DISCUSSED WITH THE WATCH SUPVR. THE CREW TALKED TO TRACON AND AGREED THAT THE CLRNC AT REEDR IS EXPECTED CLRNC ONLY.

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.