Pilot on IFR approach is cleared to 3000 ft then told he was to remain at 4000 ft.

Attributes
ACN	357290
Time
Date	199701
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lzu
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : lzu
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 20
ASRS Report	357290
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On an IFR flight from cco to lzu, I crossed atl VOR at 5000 ft and was vectored for a VOR DME approach to runway 7 at lzu. I was told to descend to 4000 ft while being vectored. I was then told to descend to 3000 ft, heading 050 degrees and join the approach. Upon leveling at 3000 ft I was asked by ATC why I was at 3000 ft. I responded that I was told to descend to 3000 ft and join the approach. The controller inferred that I was not told to descend to 3000 ft. He then said to maintain 3000 ft until established on the approach and cleared for the approach. I continued the approach and was told to contact gwinnett tower, an uneventful approach and landing was accomplished. I do not know if I erred in my descent from 4000 ft to 3000 ft. I heard nothing further from ATC or the tower at lzu.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT ON IFR APCH IS CLRED TO 3000 FT THEN TOLD HE WAS TO REMAIN AT 4000 FT.

Narrative: ON AN IFR FLT FROM CCO TO LZU, I CROSSED ATL VOR AT 5000 FT AND WAS VECTORED FOR A VOR DME APCH TO RWY 7 AT LZU. I WAS TOLD TO DSND TO 4000 FT WHILE BEING VECTORED. I WAS THEN TOLD TO DSND TO 3000 FT, HDG 050 DEGS AND JOIN THE APCH. UPON LEVELING AT 3000 FT I WAS ASKED BY ATC WHY I WAS AT 3000 FT. I RESPONDED THAT I WAS TOLD TO DSND TO 3000 FT AND JOIN THE APCH. THE CTLR INFERRED THAT I WAS NOT TOLD TO DSND TO 3000 FT. HE THEN SAID TO MAINTAIN 3000 FT UNTIL ESTABLISHED ON THE APCH AND CLRED FOR THE APCH. I CONTINUED THE APCH AND WAS TOLD TO CONTACT GWINNETT TWR, AN UNEVENTFUL APCH AND LNDG WAS ACCOMPLISHED. I DO NOT KNOW IF I ERRED IN MY DSCNT FROM 4000 FT TO 3000 FT. I HEARD NOTHING FURTHER FROM ATC OR THE TWR AT LZU.

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.