An air carrier flight crew flying an MD80 into lga failed to maintain altitude as assigned by ATC.

Attributes
ACN	452060
Time
Date	199910
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl single value : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : charted visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	452060
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : became reoriented
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While following the hudson river northbound in a descent to 3500 ft, we were given a clearance for the river visual to runway 13 at lga. After receiving this clearance, we continued our descent to 2000 ft so as to maintain 2000 ft until turning final. As we leveled off at 2000 ft approach called requesting our altitude, which was 2000 ft. Apparently our clearance was to fly the river visual and maintain 3500 ft until abeam central park. We had read back our clearance as 'cleared the river visual to runway 13,' with no mention of 3500 ft abeam central park. As a result of the misunderstanding there were no conflicts, and approach control said we could maintain 2000 ft and continue our approach. I believe the situation could have been avoided by correcting our clearance response.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR FLC FLYING AN MD80 INTO LGA FAILED TO MAINTAIN ALT AS ASSIGNED BY ATC.

Narrative: WHILE FOLLOWING THE HUDSON RIVER NBOUND IN A DSCNT TO 3500 FT, WE WERE GIVEN A CLRNC FOR THE RIVER VISUAL TO RWY 13 AT LGA. AFTER RECEIVING THIS CLRNC, WE CONTINUED OUR DSCNT TO 2000 FT SO AS TO MAINTAIN 2000 FT UNTIL TURNING FINAL. AS WE LEVELED OFF AT 2000 FT APCH CALLED REQUESTING OUR ALT, WHICH WAS 2000 FT. APPARENTLY OUR CLRNC WAS TO FLY THE RIVER VISUAL AND MAINTAIN 3500 FT UNTIL ABEAM CENTRAL PARK. WE HAD READ BACK OUR CLRNC AS 'CLRED THE RIVER VISUAL TO RWY 13,' WITH NO MENTION OF 3500 FT ABEAM CENTRAL PARK. AS A RESULT OF THE MISUNDERSTANDING THERE WERE NO CONFLICTS, AND APCH CTL SAID WE COULD MAINTAIN 2000 FT AND CONTINUE OUR APCH. I BELIEVE THE SIT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED BY CORRECTING OUR CLRNC RESPONSE.

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.