Track deviation and altitude deviation over mcdill AFB.

Attributes
ACN	296090
Time
Date	199502
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tpa
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1600 msl bound upper : 1600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : tpa tower : ord
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	HS 125 Series 1-600
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 4600 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	296090
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 2000 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	296103
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : became reoriented other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

On approach to runway 36L at tampa international airport, we were vectored to the downwind and given 1600 ft assigned altitude. At approximately 5 mi southwest of the runway, we were given traffic as an air carrier dc-9 on base and we were told to follow it and cleared for the visual approach. We had the traffic and turned base leg. As we turned final, I lost the traffic and lined up with what I thought was runway 36L and descended out of 1600 ft. Tampa approach then told us that we were apparently lining up with mcdill air force base and to climb back to 1600 ft and given a heading for 36L runway. We were then told we should have maintained 1600 ft until crossing mcdill air force base. I think the controllers should get a readback of this restr as in runway hold instructions. I was told by the controller that this happens often.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TRACK DEV AND ALTDEV OVER MCDILL AFB.

Narrative: ON APCH TO RWY 36L AT TAMPA INTL ARPT, WE WERE VECTORED TO THE DOWNWIND AND GIVEN 1600 FT ASSIGNED ALT. AT APPROX 5 MI SW OF THE RWY, WE WERE GIVEN TFC AS AN ACR DC-9 ON BASE AND WE WERE TOLD TO FOLLOW IT AND CLRED FOR THE VISUAL APCH. WE HAD THE TFC AND TURNED BASE LEG. AS WE TURNED FINAL, I LOST THE TFC AND LINED UP WITH WHAT I THOUGHT WAS RWY 36L AND DSNDED OUT OF 1600 FT. TAMPA APCH THEN TOLD US THAT WE WERE APPARENTLY LINING UP WITH MCDILL AIR FORCE BASE AND TO CLB BACK TO 1600 FT AND GIVEN A HDG FOR 36L RWY. WE WERE THEN TOLD WE SHOULD HAVE MAINTAINED 1600 FT UNTIL XING MCDILL AIR FORCE BASE. I THINK THE CTLRS SHOULD GET A READBACK OF THIS RESTR AS IN RWY HOLD INSTRUCTIONS. I WAS TOLD BY THE CTLR THAT THIS HAPPENS OFTEN.

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.