A falcon 20 pilot descended below the assigned altitude near mke.

Attributes
ACN	441260
Time
Date	199906
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mke.airport
State Reference	WI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1800 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mke.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	441260
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were being vectored for approach and landing on runway 19R at mke airport. At 4000 ft on a 10-12 NM right downwind, we heard and read back 'cleared to 1800 ft.' at +/-2000 ft and still descending, we were queried and reminded that we were 'cleared to 2800 ft.' we immediately climbed back up to the assigned altitude wondering who made the error. Shortly thereafter, we were vectored through the localizer (intentionally or not we don't know) and then given additional intercept headings that would never reintercept the localizer. About this time it occurred to me the controller was simply overloaded. There are numerous towers in the area, the tallest of which is 1750 ft MSL, and we were dangerously close in my opinion.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A FALCON 20 PLT DSNDED BELOW THE ASSIGNED ALT NEAR MKE.

Narrative: WE WERE BEING VECTORED FOR APCH AND LNDG ON RWY 19R AT MKE ARPT. AT 4000 FT ON A 10-12 NM R DOWNWIND, WE HEARD AND READ BACK 'CLRED TO 1800 FT.' AT +/-2000 FT AND STILL DSNDING, WE WERE QUERIED AND REMINDED THAT WE WERE 'CLRED TO 2800 FT.' WE IMMEDIATELY CLBED BACK UP TO THE ASSIGNED ALT WONDERING WHO MADE THE ERROR. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WE WERE VECTORED THROUGH THE LOC (INTENTIONALLY OR NOT WE DON'T KNOW) AND THEN GIVEN ADDITIONAL INTERCEPT HDGS THAT WOULD NEVER REINTERCEPT THE LOC. ABOUT THIS TIME IT OCCURRED TO ME THE CTLR WAS SIMPLY OVERLOADED. THERE ARE NUMEROUS TWRS IN THE AREA, THE TALLEST OF WHICH IS 1750 FT MSL, AND WE WERE DANGEROUSLY CLOSE IN MY OPINION.

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.