Small aircraft descends below assigned when cleared to hold as published at intersection.

Attributes
ACN	234225
Time
Date	199302
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mrb
State Reference	WV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3300 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : iad
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 22 flight time total : 370 flight time type : 19
ASRS Report	234225
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : observer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
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 other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

In IMC at 5000 ft on V39 approaching mrb. ATC said, 'cleared for the martinsburg transition. Hold at burgy intersection as published. Expect further clearance at XX00.' we crossed mrb and began descent to published altitude of 3300 ft. Arrived burgy turned outbound for hold and continued descent. ATC called out nearby VFR traffic as we began breaking out of clouds. ATC then asked us to verify altitude since he showed us at 3600 ft, and we were supposed to be at 4000 ft. We began immediate climb back up to 4000 ft. Obviously, ATC thought he'd given us an altitude restriction but he did not. I should have reported intended descent to 3300 but did not, which would have caught the missing restriction. There was another pilot on board. I was flying. He was navigating and communicating. Neither of us heard any altitude restriction. Also, he agreed when I decided to begin descent to 3300 ft. He is also instrument rated private.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA DSNDS BELOW ASSIGNED WHEN CLRED TO HOLD AS PUBLISHED AT INTXN.

Narrative: IN IMC AT 5000 FT ON V39 APCHING MRB. ATC SAID, 'CLRED FOR THE MARTINSBURG TRANSITION. HOLD AT BURGY INTXN AS PUBLISHED. EXPECT FURTHER CLRNC AT XX00.' WE CROSSED MRB AND BEGAN DSCNT TO PUBLISHED ALT OF 3300 FT. ARRIVED BURGY TURNED OUTBOUND FOR HOLD AND CONTINUED DSCNT. ATC CALLED OUT NEARBY VFR TFC AS WE BEGAN BREAKING OUT OF CLOUDS. ATC THEN ASKED US TO VERIFY ALT SINCE HE SHOWED US AT 3600 FT, AND WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE AT 4000 FT. WE BEGAN IMMEDIATE CLB BACK UP TO 4000 FT. OBVIOUSLY, ATC THOUGHT HE'D GIVEN US AN ALT RESTRICTION BUT HE DID NOT. I SHOULD HAVE RPTED INTENDED DSCNT TO 3300 BUT DID NOT, WHICH WOULD HAVE CAUGHT THE MISSING RESTRICTION. THERE WAS ANOTHER PLT ON BOARD. I WAS FLYING. HE WAS NAVING AND COMMUNICATING. NEITHER OF US HEARD ANY ALT RESTRICTION. ALSO, HE AGREED WHEN I DECIDED TO BEGIN DSCNT TO 3300 FT. HE IS ALSO INST RATED PVT.

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.