Light transport commuter aircraft has altitude deviation on approach.

Attributes
ACN	273711
Time
Date	199406
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : igb
State Reference	MS
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1800 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 170 flight time total : 3400 flight time type : 1600
ASRS Report	273711
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 1400
ASRS Report	273712
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

As PNF I was performing a routine workload. I told the captain that I would be off radio #1 to pick up the gtr AWOS, contact our company, and to give our passenger their final landing instructions. Radio #1 was on 127.1 (ZME). When I finished my duties and returned to radio #1, the captain told me that we had been cleared for the approach. We leveled off at 1800 ft AGL (pattern altitude for gtr). ZME told us that they had lost radar contact and to say altitude. When we replied '1800' he asked 'what are you doing there, you're supposed to be at 2500 ft.' we climbed to 2500 ft and were then given a visual clearance into gtr. We then canceled IFR and landed. The aircraft was never in any danger or conflict.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LTT COMMUTER ACFT HAS ALTDEV ON APCH.

Narrative: AS PNF I WAS PERFORMING A ROUTINE WORKLOAD. I TOLD THE CAPT THAT I WOULD BE OFF RADIO #1 TO PICK UP THE GTR AWOS, CONTACT OUR COMPANY, AND TO GIVE OUR PAX THEIR FINAL LNDG INSTRUCTIONS. RADIO #1 WAS ON 127.1 (ZME). WHEN I FINISHED MY DUTIES AND RETURNED TO RADIO #1, THE CAPT TOLD ME THAT WE HAD BEEN CLRED FOR THE APCH. WE LEVELED OFF AT 1800 FT AGL (PATTERN ALT FOR GTR). ZME TOLD US THAT THEY HAD LOST RADAR CONTACT AND TO SAY ALT. WHEN WE REPLIED '1800' HE ASKED 'WHAT ARE YOU DOING THERE, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE AT 2500 FT.' WE CLBED TO 2500 FT AND WERE THEN GIVEN A VISUAL CLRNC INTO GTR. WE THEN CANCELED IFR AND LANDED. THE ACFT WAS NEVER IN ANY DANGER OR CONFLICT.

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.