Altitude deviation. Commenced approach before cleared.

Attributes
ACN	306094
Time
Date	199506
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sbp
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sbp
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	306094
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 3700 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	306221
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were cleared to fly the localizer course and expect approach clearance 3 mi inside dobra. Crossing dobra we began a descent, directed by me, to 2300 ft. At 3600-3500 ft ATC queried us and advised we were not cleared for the approach. We immediately began climb back to 4000 ft. I was suffering from a headache and the first officer was a new hire with less than 100 hours in type and the company. Usually we are cleared for the approach outside dobra. I think this was the first time in 7 yrs I hadn't been cleared outside dobra. Due to the complexity of this approach, my mindset was to get slowed, configured and stay on the profile. Complacency physical distress, first officer experience, and my desire to let the first officer gain actual experience are probable causes.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV. COMMENCED APCH BEFORE CLRED.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED TO FLY THE LOC COURSE AND EXPECT APCH CLRNC 3 MI INSIDE DOBRA. XING DOBRA WE BEGAN A DSCNT, DIRECTED BY ME, TO 2300 FT. AT 3600-3500 FT ATC QUERIED US AND ADVISED WE WERE NOT CLRED FOR THE APCH. WE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN CLB BACK TO 4000 FT. I WAS SUFFERING FROM A HEADACHE AND THE FO WAS A NEW HIRE WITH LESS THAN 100 HRS IN TYPE AND THE COMPANY. USUALLY WE ARE CLRED FOR THE APCH OUTSIDE DOBRA. I THINK THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME IN 7 YRS I HADN'T BEEN CLRED OUTSIDE DOBRA. DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY OF THIS APCH, MY MINDSET WAS TO GET SLOWED, CONFIGURED AND STAY ON THE PROFILE. COMPLACENCY PHYSICAL DISTRESS, FO EXPERIENCE, AND MY DESIRE TO LET THE FO GAIN ACTUAL EXPERIENCE ARE PROBABLE CAUSES.

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.