Altitude bust on approach clearance.

Attributes
ACN	249477
Time
Date	199308
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cle
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : cle
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 8500
ASRS Report	249477
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance 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:

On vector for ILS 5R cle. Previously cleared to 3000, I thought I heard 'you are cleared to 2000 until intercepting localizer, cleared for approach 05R.' I initiated descent from 3000 and turned to intercept localizer. Left seat pilot on radio, engineer busy. Soon cle approach said, 'low altitude alert. You are shown to be at 2100, clearance was to 3000.' I immediately climbed to 3000. We were in VFR conditions over flat terrain, so no danger. Left seat pilot had not changed altitude reminder, he said because he still thought we should be at 3000. He had not told me this. Flight engineer said same, that he doubted, but didn't say so. I should have questioned other pilot since he had not changed altitude reminder. Also, since we were outside LOM, and GS altitude there is about 2400, I should have thought 2000 too low. This was a combination of errors, not the least being failure of other 2 pilots to voice their doubts. Lucky that terrain and WX (and I hope, cle approach) were forgiving.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT BUST ON APCH CLRNC.

Narrative: ON VECTOR FOR ILS 5R CLE. PREVIOUSLY CLRED TO 3000, I THOUGHT I HEARD 'YOU ARE CLRED TO 2000 UNTIL INTERCEPTING LOC, CLRED FOR APCH 05R.' I INITIATED DSCNT FROM 3000 AND TURNED TO INTERCEPT LOC. L SEAT PLT ON RADIO, ENGINEER BUSY. SOON CLE APCH SAID, 'LOW ALT ALERT. YOU ARE SHOWN TO BE AT 2100, CLRNC WAS TO 3000.' I IMMEDIATELY CLBED TO 3000. WE WERE IN VFR CONDITIONS OVER FLAT TERRAIN, SO NO DANGER. L SEAT PLT HAD NOT CHANGED ALT REMINDER, HE SAID BECAUSE HE STILL THOUGHT WE SHOULD BE AT 3000. HE HAD NOT TOLD ME THIS. FE SAID SAME, THAT HE DOUBTED, BUT DIDN'T SAY SO. I SHOULD HAVE QUESTIONED OTHER PLT SINCE HE HAD NOT CHANGED ALT REMINDER. ALSO, SINCE WE WERE OUTSIDE LOM, AND GS ALT THERE IS ABOUT 2400, I SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT 2000 TOO LOW. THIS WAS A COMBINATION OF ERRORS, NOT THE LEAST BEING FAILURE OF OTHER 2 PLTS TO VOICE THEIR DOUBTS. LUCKY THAT TERRAIN AND WX (AND I HOPE, CLE APCH) WERE FORGIVING.

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.