Altitude deviation altitude excursion.

Attributes
ACN	205514
Time
Date	199203
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bgq
State Reference	AK
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1600 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : anc
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 99 flight time total : 3556
ASRS Report	205514
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After reaching tustumena lake we were given a 30 degree turn to the left (west) for traffic, then told to go direct to anc VOR. We were asked if we wanted anchorage or big lake. We replied we wished to go to big lake (bgq). We were then asked what our intentions were. We replied that we wanted the bgq VOR approach and we were cleared to 3000 ft out of 5000 ft and proceeded to bgq at 3000 ft, understanding that we were cleared for the approach. Upon reaching the VOR, we proceeded outbound on the approach segment of 271 degrees, now descending to 1600 ft as per the approach plate. Approach asked us to state altitude and we replied that we were descending, at that point through 2000 ft. He then said we were not given permission to leave 3000 ft, however, we understood that we were cleared to bgq for the approach (note: what are your intentions?). We were then told to climb to 3000 ft on a westerly heading, then told to proceed to bgq VOR and hold northwest as published.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV ALT EXCURSION.

Narrative: AFTER REACHING TUSTUMENA LAKE WE WERE GIVEN A 30 DEG TURN TO THE L (W) FOR TFC, THEN TOLD TO GO DIRECT TO ANC VOR. WE WERE ASKED IF WE WANTED ANCHORAGE OR BIG LAKE. WE REPLIED WE WISHED TO GO TO BIG LAKE (BGQ). WE WERE THEN ASKED WHAT OUR INTENTIONS WERE. WE REPLIED THAT WE WANTED THE BGQ VOR APCH AND WE WERE CLRED TO 3000 FT OUT OF 5000 FT AND PROCEEDED TO BGQ AT 3000 FT, UNDERSTANDING THAT WE WERE CLRED FOR THE APCH. UPON REACHING THE VOR, WE PROCEEDED OUTBOUND ON THE APCH SEGMENT OF 271 DEGS, NOW DSNDING TO 1600 FT AS PER THE APCH PLATE. APCH ASKED US TO STATE ALT AND WE REPLIED THAT WE WERE DSNDING, AT THAT POINT THROUGH 2000 FT. HE THEN SAID WE WERE NOT GIVEN PERMISSION TO LEAVE 3000 FT, HOWEVER, WE UNDERSTOOD THAT WE WERE CLRED TO BGQ FOR THE APCH (NOTE: WHAT ARE YOUR INTENTIONS?). WE WERE THEN TOLD TO CLB TO 3000 FT ON A WESTERLY HDG, THEN TOLD TO PROCEED TO BGQ VOR AND HOLD NW AS PUBLISHED.

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.