GA pilot gets involved in an altitude deviation altitude excursion on a visual approach to phx.

Attributes
ACN	319060
Time
Date	199510
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : phx
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2700 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phx
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	approach : visual enroute : direct
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 2000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	319060
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I contacted phx approach 35 mi south and was told to descend to 4000 ft. About 10 mi south I asked for lower and was told to cross ahwatukee at 3000 ft and proceed to cross approach end of runway 8R. After crossing ahwatukee at 3000 ft as requested and watching approach end of runway 8R a different voice asked for my altitude. I looked at altimeter and replied 2700 ft. The controller then asked me to climb back to 3000 ft which I did. He then asked if I understood from previous controller that I was to maintain 3000 ft. I replied I did not. At no time did I observe any other aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA PLT GETS INVOLVED IN AN ALTDEV ALT EXCURSION ON A VISUAL APCH TO PHX.

Narrative: I CONTACTED PHX APCH 35 MI S AND WAS TOLD TO DSND TO 4000 FT. ABOUT 10 MI S I ASKED FOR LOWER AND WAS TOLD TO CROSS AHWATUKEE AT 3000 FT AND PROCEED TO CROSS APCH END OF RWY 8R. AFTER XING AHWATUKEE AT 3000 FT AS REQUESTED AND WATCHING APCH END OF RWY 8R A DIFFERENT VOICE ASKED FOR MY ALT. I LOOKED AT ALTIMETER AND REPLIED 2700 FT. THE CTLR THEN ASKED ME TO CLB BACK TO 3000 FT WHICH I DID. HE THEN ASKED IF I UNDERSTOOD FROM PREVIOUS CTLR THAT I WAS TO MAINTAIN 3000 FT. I REPLIED I DID NOT. AT NO TIME DID I OBSERVE ANY OTHER ACFT.

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.