Pilot of a C402C descended form assigned altitude in anticipation of receiving a visual approach. However, approach controller denied his request and reminded the reporter to maintain assigned altitude. Reporter returned to assigned to wait for IAP clearance.

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Attributes
ACN	404060
Time
Date	199805
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ewb
State Reference	MA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1600 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pvd
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Cessna 402/402C/B379 Businessliner/Utiliner
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 4810 flight time type : 2700
ASRS Report	404060
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 flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was being vectored for localizer back course runway 6 approach into ewb and was at assigned altitude of 2000 ft. Ewb was VFR with 1200 ft overcast and 7 mi visibility. There was a large hole in the overcast (6 mi diameter) which I was in and as I was being vectored for a left downwind for the approach I had a clear shot for the visual approach. I asked for the visual and started down in anticipation of being cleared for the visual approach (mistake). Reason I rushed descent was, I was getting near edge of hole in overcast and would soon be IFR again. No other aircraft were being vectored for the approach and there were no departures as I could tell. Well anyway after a slight pause I was denied visual and reminded to maintain 2000 ft which I immediately climbed back up to from 1600 ft. Next time I will not jump the gun on the visual and just cancel IFR.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF A C402C DSNDED FORM ASSIGNED ALT IN ANTICIPATION OF RECEIVING A VISUAL APCH. HOWEVER, APCH CTLR DENIED HIS REQUEST AND REMINDED THE RPTR TO MAINTAIN ASSIGNED ALT. RPTR RETURNED TO ASSIGNED TO WAIT FOR IAP CLRNC.

Narrative: I WAS BEING VECTORED FOR LOC BACK COURSE RWY 6 APCH INTO EWB AND WAS AT ASSIGNED ALT OF 2000 FT. EWB WAS VFR WITH 1200 FT OVCST AND 7 MI VISIBILITY. THERE WAS A LARGE HOLE IN THE OVCST (6 MI DIAMETER) WHICH I WAS IN AND AS I WAS BEING VECTORED FOR A L DOWNWIND FOR THE APCH I HAD A CLR SHOT FOR THE VISUAL APCH. I ASKED FOR THE VISUAL AND STARTED DOWN IN ANTICIPATION OF BEING CLRED FOR THE VISUAL APCH (MISTAKE). REASON I RUSHED DSCNT WAS, I WAS GETTING NEAR EDGE OF HOLE IN OVCST AND WOULD SOON BE IFR AGAIN. NO OTHER ACFT WERE BEING VECTORED FOR THE APCH AND THERE WERE NO DEPS AS I COULD TELL. WELL ANYWAY AFTER A SLIGHT PAUSE I WAS DENIED VISUAL AND REMINDED TO MAINTAIN 2000 FT WHICH I IMMEDIATELY CLBED BACK UP TO FROM 1600 FT. NEXT TIME I WILL NOT JUMP THE GUN ON THE VISUAL AND JUST CANCEL IFR.

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.