Small aircraft assigned a STAR descends below assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	187226
Time
Date	199108
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lhs airport : bur
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7800 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival star : star enroute airway : bur
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 1010 flight time type : 90
ASRS Report	187226
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was following a STAR to bur for a landing. My altitude was 9000 ft approaching the lynxx 6 arrival which was assigned to me. Upon reaching the lake hughes VOR I began to descend to 7800 ft as published. The controller called me and said 'you are maintaining 9000 ft aren't you?' I replied that I was descending to 7800 ft as indicated on the arrival. He informed me I could be violated and that I was to maintain altitude until instructed otherwise by ATC, unless I was following a profile view. I have since questioned a few pilots on this matter. Most are not certain. I feel instructors should put more emphasis on this phase of training (stars/sids).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA ASSIGNED A STAR DSNDS BELOW ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: I WAS FOLLOWING A STAR TO BUR FOR A LNDG. MY ALT WAS 9000 FT APCHING THE LYNXX 6 ARR WHICH WAS ASSIGNED TO ME. UPON REACHING THE LAKE HUGHES VOR I BEGAN TO DSND TO 7800 FT AS PUBLISHED. THE CTLR CALLED ME AND SAID 'YOU ARE MAINTAINING 9000 FT AREN'T YOU?' I REPLIED THAT I WAS DSNDING TO 7800 FT AS INDICATED ON THE ARR. HE INFORMED ME I COULD BE VIOLATED AND THAT I WAS TO MAINTAIN ALT UNTIL INSTRUCTED OTHERWISE BY ATC, UNLESS I WAS FOLLOWING A PROFILE VIEW. I HAVE SINCE QUESTIONED A FEW PLTS ON THIS MATTER. MOST ARE NOT CERTAIN. I FEEL INSTRUCTORS SHOULD PUT MORE EMPHASIS ON THIS PHASE OF TRAINING (STARS/SIDS).

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.