Narrative:

While on an IFR flight plan doing the visual approach for runway 25 into sba in VFR conditions, in a C180A, I was told to maintain 3000 ft. I was then cleared for the left downwind to runway 25 and descended to 2500 ft. When asked my altitude, I was told to go back to 3000 ft. Prior to these instructions, when I was at 4000 ft on the crosswind entry, I was asked if able to do the entry from that altitude. I declined and at that point was cleared to 3000 ft out over the water. The confusion arose when cleared for left downwind. I began my descent.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLANNING A VFR APCH FROM AN IFR FLT PLAN, A CESSNA PLT LEAVES ASSIGNED ALT BEFORE BEING RELEASED FOR THE VISUAL APCH.

Narrative: WHILE ON AN IFR FLT PLAN DOING THE VISUAL APCH FOR RWY 25 INTO SBA IN VFR CONDITIONS, IN A C180A, I WAS TOLD TO MAINTAIN 3000 FT. I WAS THEN CLRED FOR THE L DOWNWIND TO RWY 25 AND DSNDED TO 2500 FT. WHEN ASKED MY ALT, I WAS TOLD TO GO BACK TO 3000 FT. PRIOR TO THESE INSTRUCTIONS, WHEN I WAS AT 4000 FT ON THE XWIND ENTRY, I WAS ASKED IF ABLE TO DO THE ENTRY FROM THAT ALT. I DECLINED AND AT THAT POINT WAS CLRED TO 3000 FT OUT OVER THE WATER. THE CONFUSION AROSE WHEN CLRED FOR L DOWNWIND. I BEGAN MY DSCNT.

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.