Air carrier crew left holding pattern with clearance but left altitude without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	479160
Time
Date	200007
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
State Reference	AK
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7800 msl bound upper : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zan.artcc tower : off.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude descent : holding
Route In Use	approach : instrument non precision arrival : holding pattern
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 8000
ASRS Report	479160
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 15000
ASRS Report	479168
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllerb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were instructed to hold at ssr VOR while another aircraft was on approach to pajn airport. We were assigned 10000 ft as an altitude. We were then cleared to lynns intersection 'in anticipation of the lda runway 8 approach.' I realized that we were not cleared for the approach. The captain knew this also. When we exited the holding pattern over ssr VOR and set the aircraft radio HSI for navigation to lynns intersection, I dialed in into the altitude alerter the minimum approved altitude for that segment on the approach chart. This was the error. We were cleared to lynns intersection, but not cleared lower than the previous 10000 ft MSL. The captain descended from 10000 ft and we were queried by ATC at about 7800 ft MSL. Approach clearance was then given and the descent continued without incident. The captain was suddenly very upset with my 'leading him down the path.' the error was mine -- resetting the altitude alerter without first receiving a proper ATC descent clearance. In the future, I will give greater respect for this routine action and will keep the other pilot aware of my altitude alerter changes.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR CREW LEFT HOLDING PATTERN WITH CLRNC BUT LEFT ALT WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO HOLD AT SSR VOR WHILE ANOTHER ACFT WAS ON APCH TO PAJN ARPT. WE WERE ASSIGNED 10000 FT AS AN ALT. WE WERE THEN CLRED TO LYNNS INTXN 'IN ANTICIPATION OF THE LDA RWY 8 APCH.' I REALIZED THAT WE WERE NOT CLRED FOR THE APCH. THE CAPT KNEW THIS ALSO. WHEN WE EXITED THE HOLDING PATTERN OVER SSR VOR AND SET THE ACFT RADIO HSI FOR NAV TO LYNNS INTXN, I DIALED IN INTO THE ALT ALERTER THE MINIMUM APPROVED ALT FOR THAT SEGMENT ON THE APCH CHART. THIS WAS THE ERROR. WE WERE CLRED TO LYNNS INTXN, BUT NOT CLRED LOWER THAN THE PREVIOUS 10000 FT MSL. THE CAPT DSNDED FROM 10000 FT AND WE WERE QUERIED BY ATC AT ABOUT 7800 FT MSL. APCH CLRNC WAS THEN GIVEN AND THE DSCNT CONTINUED WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE CAPT WAS SUDDENLY VERY UPSET WITH MY 'LEADING HIM DOWN THE PATH.' THE ERROR WAS MINE -- RESETTING THE ALT ALERTER WITHOUT FIRST RECEIVING A PROPER ATC DSCNT CLRNC. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL GIVE GREATER RESPECT FOR THIS ROUTINE ACTION AND WILL KEEP THE OTHER PLT AWARE OF MY ALT ALERTER CHANGES.

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.