Narrative:

We were in a lear jet (aircraft X) making a VFR approach to pdk airport on an instrument flight plan at 8000 ft MSL. We called airport in sight with ATIS information. We thought the approach controller told us we were cleared for the visual approach right traffic for runway 2R. We started a descent to pattern altitude 2500 ft MSL. When we were out of 3800 ft MSL, the controller asked us what altitude we were assigned. We advised him we thought we were cleared for the visual approach. He then informed us that he had said to expect a visual approach right traffic for runway 2R, so now to maintain 3000 ft MSL, which we did. My copilot and myself did not hear the word 'expect' and that is the reason we descended out of 8000 ft MSL.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLTDEV. DSNDED WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: WE WERE IN A LEAR JET (ACFT X) MAKING A VFR APCH TO PDK ARPT ON AN INST FLT PLAN AT 8000 FT MSL. WE CALLED ARPT IN SIGHT WITH ATIS INFO. WE THOUGHT THE APCH CTLR TOLD US WE WERE CLRED FOR THE VISUAL APCH R TFC FOR RWY 2R. WE STARTED A DSCNT TO PATTERN ALT 2500 FT MSL. WHEN WE WERE OUT OF 3800 FT MSL, THE CTLR ASKED US WHAT ALT WE WERE ASSIGNED. WE ADVISED HIM WE THOUGHT WE WERE CLRED FOR THE VISUAL APCH. HE THEN INFORMED US THAT HE HAD SAID TO EXPECT A VISUAL APCH R TFC FOR RWY 2R, SO NOW TO MAINTAIN 3000 FT MSL, WHICH WE DID. MY COPLT AND MYSELF DID NOT HEAR THE WORD 'EXPECT' AND THAT IS THE REASON WE DSNDED OUT OF 8000 FT MSL.

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.