An air carrier medium large transport misunderstood its approach clearance.

Attributes
ACN	305330
Time
Date	199505
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hpn
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : hpn
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	305330
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : became reoriented other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While on a right downwind for runway 34 at hpn, we were cleared for what we thought was a 'visual' for runway 34. Approach said that they said the 'sound visual.' we didn't hear that and turned in too early. After questioning, we took corrective action to resume the 'sound visual.' contributing factor was the blimp that was close to the approach corridor and I wanted to turn in closer. Other factors first time to hpn in several yrs (6 plus). Outside vigil for VFR targets. We should have briefed further out (less workload).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR MLG MISUNDERSTOOD ITS APCH CLRNC.

Narrative: WHILE ON A R DOWNWIND FOR RWY 34 AT HPN, WE WERE CLRED FOR WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS A 'VISUAL' FOR RWY 34. APCH SAID THAT THEY SAID THE 'SOUND VISUAL.' WE DIDN'T HEAR THAT AND TURNED IN TOO EARLY. AFTER QUESTIONING, WE TOOK CORRECTIVE ACTION TO RESUME THE 'SOUND VISUAL.' CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE BLIMP THAT WAS CLOSE TO THE APCH CORRIDOR AND I WANTED TO TURN IN CLOSER. OTHER FACTORS FIRST TIME TO HPN IN SEVERAL YRS (6 PLUS). OUTSIDE VIGIL FOR VFR TARGETS. WE SHOULD HAVE BRIEFED FURTHER OUT (LESS WORKLOAD).

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.