Narrative:

Lax was operating on only 1 runway, 24R, and I was cleared for approach and was engaging autoflt system for the approach. For whatever reason, I was taken off the approach and given a vector for spacing of 210 degree. While dialogue was resumed about me continuing for 24L, 25L was opened and a new heading was given for 25L ILS. At this time the aircraft was descending and I could not get altitude hold to arrest the descent until I had gone through 8000 ft to 7700 ft at which time I returned to 8000 ft. I find fault with a single controller being able to 'ad lib' by arbitrarily taking me off the 24R approach and, because any other approach becomes available, capriciously assign me (or any other aircraft) that approach. I believe that type of decision should be made for aircraft still 30 or 40 mi from the airport.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF ACR MLG ACFT OVERSHOT DSCNT ALT CLRNC AFTER BEING DISTR BY AN AMENDED HDG CHANGE AND APCH CLRNC.

Narrative: LAX WAS OPERATING ON ONLY 1 RWY, 24R, AND I WAS CLRED FOR APCH AND WAS ENGAGING AUTOFLT SYS FOR THE APCH. FOR WHATEVER REASON, I WAS TAKEN OFF THE APCH AND GIVEN A VECTOR FOR SPACING OF 210 DEG. WHILE DIALOGUE WAS RESUMED ABOUT ME CONTINUING FOR 24L, 25L WAS OPENED AND A NEW HDG WAS GIVEN FOR 25L ILS. AT THIS TIME THE ACFT WAS DSNDING AND I COULD NOT GET ALT HOLD TO ARREST THE DSCNT UNTIL I HAD GONE THROUGH 8000 FT TO 7700 FT AT WHICH TIME I RETURNED TO 8000 FT. I FIND FAULT WITH A SINGLE CTLR BEING ABLE TO 'AD LIB' BY ARBITRARILY TAKING ME OFF THE 24R APCH AND, BECAUSE ANY OTHER APCH BECOMES AVAILABLE, CAPRICIOUSLY ASSIGN ME (OR ANY OTHER ACFT) THAT APCH. I BELIEVE THAT TYPE OF DECISION SHOULD BE MADE FOR ACFT STILL 30 OR 40 MI FROM THE ARPT.

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.