Narrative:

We were being vectored by approach control at 2600 ft. Cleared by approach to join downwind for runway 32. We believed we were cleared to descend to pattern altitude but approach only intended us to fly the downwind at 2600 ft. No conflicts observed. Supplemental information from acn 389353: after advising approach I had field in sight, approach controller advised 'join downwind runway 14.' I turned on the 45 degree to join downwind, and commenced a descent from 2600 ft MSL to 1600 ft MSL, the traffic pattern altitude. Prior to handing us off to tower, the controller asked us what altitude we were descending to with no qualifying or amplifying remarks.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SF340B FLC ADVISES APCH CTLR OF FIELD IN SIGHT. FLC MISINTERPS THE CLRNC OF 'JOIN THE DOWNWIND' FOR A VISUAL AUTH TO LEAVE THEIR ASSIGNED ALT OF 2600 FT FOR TFC PATTERN ALT OF 1600 FT.

Narrative: WE WERE BEING VECTORED BY APCH CTL AT 2600 FT. CLRED BY APCH TO JOIN DOWNWIND FOR RWY 32. WE BELIEVED WE WERE CLRED TO DSND TO PATTERN ALT BUT APCH ONLY INTENDED US TO FLY THE DOWNWIND AT 2600 FT. NO CONFLICTS OBSERVED. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 389353: AFTER ADVISING APCH I HAD FIELD IN SIGHT, APCH CTLR ADVISED 'JOIN DOWNWIND RWY 14.' I TURNED ON THE 45 DEG TO JOIN DOWNWIND, AND COMMENCED A DSCNT FROM 2600 FT MSL TO 1600 FT MSL, THE TFC PATTERN ALT. PRIOR TO HANDING US OFF TO TWR, THE CTLR ASKED US WHAT ALT WE WERE DSNDING TO WITH NO QUALIFYING OR AMPLIFYING REMARKS.

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.