Flight crew of large transport allegedly excursioned from assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	188296
Time
Date	199109
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tpa
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : tpa
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 16600 flight time type : 3700
ASRS Report	188296
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 5700 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	188139
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew faa : assigned or threatened penalties
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were proceeding to the tampa airport from the south on an assigned heading of 360 degree at 5000 ft. The captain was flying. We were told to slow to 210 KTS. We said we were already at 180 KTS. Approach said, call the field in sight for a visual to 18L. At the time we were 3 mi east of 18L, we called the field in sight and the crew understood we were cleared for the approach. At 2500 ft and still heading 360 degree the controller asked our altitude. We gave it and he gave us a 260 degree heading and called traffic at 1 O'clock which we saw at about 3 mi. We were given a 220 degree heading and switched to tower. Tower cleared us to land. I talked with TRACON after landing. They said we were not cleared for a visual approach and we deviated from our assigned altitude of 5000 ft. The problem seems to be use of nonstandard instructions. The call the field in sight for a visual to 18L and then no instruction to maintain altitude after, the field in sight, was called created the situation. If the instruction 'plan a visual approach to 18L' or 'maintain 5000' would have been given there would have been no situation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF LGT ALLEGEDLY EXCURSIONED FROM ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: WE WERE PROCEEDING TO THE TAMPA ARPT FROM THE S ON AN ASSIGNED HDG OF 360 DEG AT 5000 FT. THE CAPT WAS FLYING. WE WERE TOLD TO SLOW TO 210 KTS. WE SAID WE WERE ALREADY AT 180 KTS. APCH SAID, CALL THE FIELD IN SIGHT FOR A VISUAL TO 18L. AT THE TIME WE WERE 3 MI E OF 18L, WE CALLED THE FIELD IN SIGHT AND THE CREW UNDERSTOOD WE WERE CLRED FOR THE APCH. AT 2500 FT AND STILL HDG 360 DEG THE CTLR ASKED OUR ALT. WE GAVE IT AND HE GAVE US A 260 DEG HDG AND CALLED TFC AT 1 O'CLOCK WHICH WE SAW AT ABOUT 3 MI. WE WERE GIVEN A 220 DEG HDG AND SWITCHED TO TWR. TWR CLRED US TO LAND. I TALKED WITH TRACON AFTER LNDG. THEY SAID WE WERE NOT CLRED FOR A VISUAL APCH AND WE DEVIATED FROM OUR ASSIGNED ALT OF 5000 FT. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE USE OF NONSTANDARD INSTRUCTIONS. THE CALL THE FIELD IN SIGHT FOR A VISUAL TO 18L AND THEN NO INSTRUCTION TO MAINTAIN ALT AFTER, THE FIELD IN SIGHT, WAS CALLED CREATED THE SITUATION. IF THE INSTRUCTION 'PLAN A VISUAL APCH TO 18L' OR 'MAINTAIN 5000' WOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO SITUATION.

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.