Narrative:

After switching to pvd approach control we were told to expect ILS to runway 34. We were at 5000 ft MSL, runway 5 soon was visible. We asked for a visual to runway 5. I thought the controller said 'cleared visual runway 5.' we were high so I started down. The altitude alerter went off, the copilot said, I thought he said 'expect visual to runway 5.' we leveled off at 4700 ft MSL. Copilot asked controller who now said 'cleared for a visual to runway 5.' we started down, TCASII then gave us a TA on VFR traffic at 3000 ft MSL. I never could figure out if we were 'cleared for the visual' when we initially asked or told to 'expect the visual' as the copilot thought, which is why I am writing this report.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC FLC MISCOM. FLC REQUESTED A VISUAL APCH AND CAPT RPTR THOUGHT THE CTLR CLRED THEM FOR A VISUAL AND STARTED DSCNT. THE FO TOLD HIM THEY WERE CLRED TO EXPECT A VISUAL AND RPTR LEVELED OFF AS FO AGAIN REQUESTED A VISUAL AND THEY WERE CLRED. COMMENCING DSCNT THEY HAD A TCASII TA ON A VFR TFC. MLG.

Narrative: AFTER SWITCHING TO PVD APCH CTL WE WERE TOLD TO EXPECT ILS TO RWY 34. WE WERE AT 5000 FT MSL, RWY 5 SOON WAS VISIBLE. WE ASKED FOR A VISUAL TO RWY 5. I THOUGHT THE CTLR SAID 'CLRED VISUAL RWY 5.' WE WERE HIGH SO I STARTED DOWN. THE ALT ALERTER WENT OFF, THE COPLT SAID, I THOUGHT HE SAID 'EXPECT VISUAL TO RWY 5.' WE LEVELED OFF AT 4700 FT MSL. COPLT ASKED CTLR WHO NOW SAID 'CLRED FOR A VISUAL TO RWY 5.' WE STARTED DOWN, TCASII THEN GAVE US A TA ON VFR TFC AT 3000 FT MSL. I NEVER COULD FIGURE OUT IF WE WERE 'CLRED FOR THE VISUAL' WHEN WE INITIALLY ASKED OR TOLD TO 'EXPECT THE VISUAL' AS THE COPLT THOUGHT, WHICH IS WHY I AM WRITING THIS RPT.

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.