PA60 pilot misinterprets clearance and descends below assigned altitude in elp airspace.

Attributes
ACN	422870
Time
Date	199812
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : elp
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	PA-60 600 Aerostar
Route In Use	arrival other enroute : on vectors enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 1850 flight time type : 650
ASRS Report	422870
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Approach control told me (or I understood) 'track...radial to elp VOR, expect VOR approach runway 26L, descend 6000 ft.' I replied, 'expect VOR runway 26L approach, 6000 ft, say the radial again please.' approach answered: 'keep tracking your present radial.' I replied 'roger, present radial' and descended to 6000 ft. When I was stabilized on 6000 ft, approach called and said: 'say altitude.' I replied, '6000 ft.' then he said, 'I told you to descend to 6000 ft when cleared for the approach VOR runway 26L, climb to 7000 ft.' I acknowledged and apologized and climbed to 7000 ft as fast as the airplane could. I missed the part in which he specified to descend after being cleared for the approach, and since approach control didn't correct me on the readback, I was not aware of the misinterp.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA60 PLT MISINTERPRETS CLRNC AND DSNDS BELOW ASSIGNED ALT IN ELP AIRSPACE.

Narrative: APCH CTL TOLD ME (OR I UNDERSTOOD) 'TRACK...RADIAL TO ELP VOR, EXPECT VOR APCH RWY 26L, DSND 6000 FT.' I REPLIED, 'EXPECT VOR RWY 26L APCH, 6000 FT, SAY THE RADIAL AGAIN PLEASE.' APCH ANSWERED: 'KEEP TRACKING YOUR PRESENT RADIAL.' I REPLIED 'ROGER, PRESENT RADIAL' AND DSNDED TO 6000 FT. WHEN I WAS STABILIZED ON 6000 FT, APCH CALLED AND SAID: 'SAY ALT.' I REPLIED, '6000 FT.' THEN HE SAID, 'I TOLD YOU TO DSND TO 6000 FT WHEN CLRED FOR THE APCH VOR RWY 26L, CLB TO 7000 FT.' I ACKNOWLEDGED AND APOLOGIZED AND CLBED TO 7000 FT AS FAST AS THE AIRPLANE COULD. I MISSED THE PART IN WHICH HE SPECIFIED TO DSND AFTER BEING CLRED FOR THE APCH, AND SINCE APCH CTL DIDN'T CORRECT ME ON THE READBACK, I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE MISINTERP.

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.