<< >> NASA ASRS Report 322090, November 1995

Pilot reporter fails to maintain assigned altitude in the process of completing the instrument approach.

Attributes
ACN	322090
Time
Date	199511
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : vny airport : whp
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4300 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bur
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Turbo-Viking
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 525 flight time type : 120
ASRS Report	322090
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 8000 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was flying the whiteman VOR-a approach. This procedure requires a side-step from the bur localizer runway 8 course to the vny 255 degree radial. The MDA at this point is 3000 ft. My assigned altitude was 5000 ft. I was instructed by socal approach control to turn left and intercept the vny 255 degree radial. I understood my instruction to include a descent to the 3000 ft MDA when established. After being established, I began my descent. Upon reaching 4300 ft. I was advised by ATC that I had not been authority/authorized to descend and advised to return to my assigned altitude of 5000 ft which I did.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT RPTR FAILS TO MAINTAIN ASSIGNED ALT IN THE PROCESS OF COMPLETING THE INST APCH.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING THE WHITEMAN VOR-A APCH. THIS PROC REQUIRES A SIDE-STEP FROM THE BUR LOC RWY 8 COURSE TO THE VNY 255 DEG RADIAL. THE MDA AT THIS POINT IS 3000 FT. MY ASSIGNED ALT WAS 5000 FT. I WAS INSTRUCTED BY SOCAL APCH CTL TO TURN L AND INTERCEPT THE VNY 255 DEG RADIAL. I UNDERSTOOD MY INSTRUCTION TO INCLUDE A DSCNT TO THE 3000 FT MDA WHEN ESTABLISHED. AFTER BEING ESTABLISHED, I BEGAN MY DSCNT. UPON REACHING 4300 FT. I WAS ADVISED BY ATC THAT I HAD NOT BEEN AUTH TO DSND AND ADVISED TO RETURN TO MY ASSIGNED ALT OF 5000 FT WHICH I DID.

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.