Flight crew of a learjet 35 descended below assigned altitude during descent for landing believing the approach controller had heard them cancel their IFR flight plan which he apparently had not.

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Attributes
ACN	480661
Time
Date	200007
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : fsd.airport
State Reference	SD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5800 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : fsd.tracon
Make Model Name	Learjet 35
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival : on vectors
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 6000
ASRS Report	480661
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Approximately 30 mi east of sioux falls airport the crew advised approach we had the airport in sight for the visual, and requested runway 21 if available. We were advised it was not and to expect runway 3. There was a lot of traffic too, including 2 hot air balloons we advise approach of the balloons and the other traffic at the airport. We also canceled IFR and requested a visual approach and then they didn't hear or we were blocked. We started a descent from 6000 ft and were told to go back to 6000 ft. We had only went down about 200 ft. We canceled again and stated we would go to tower and was told no and not to go to tower. We were critical on fuel due to higher than forecast winds and 45 min delay leaving newark. We were then extended another 20 mi past the airport before being turned back. When calling the tower about this we were advised of the altitude deviation. We explained that we had canceled IFR and were confused on the controller's response.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF A LEARJET 35 DSNDED BELOW ASSIGNED ALT DURING DSCNT FOR LNDG BELIEVING THE APCH CTLR HAD HEARD THEM CANCEL THEIR IFR FLT PLAN WHICH HE APPARENTLY HAD NOT.

Narrative: APPROX 30 MI E OF SIOUX FALLS ARPT THE CREW ADVISED APCH WE HAD THE ARPT IN SIGHT FOR THE VISUAL, AND REQUESTED RWY 21 IF AVAILABLE. WE WERE ADVISED IT WAS NOT AND TO EXPECT RWY 3. THERE WAS A LOT OF TFC TOO, INCLUDING 2 HOT AIR BALLOONS WE ADVISE APCH OF THE BALLOONS AND THE OTHER TFC AT THE ARPT. WE ALSO CANCELED IFR AND REQUESTED A VISUAL APCH AND THEN THEY DIDN'T HEAR OR WE WERE BLOCKED. WE STARTED A DSCNT FROM 6000 FT AND WERE TOLD TO GO BACK TO 6000 FT. WE HAD ONLY WENT DOWN ABOUT 200 FT. WE CANCELED AGAIN AND STATED WE WOULD GO TO TWR AND WAS TOLD NO AND NOT TO GO TO TWR. WE WERE CRITICAL ON FUEL DUE TO HIGHER THAN FORECAST WINDS AND 45 MIN DELAY LEAVING NEWARK. WE WERE THEN EXTENDED ANOTHER 20 MI PAST THE ARPT BEFORE BEING TURNED BACK. WHEN CALLING THE TWR ABOUT THIS WE WERE ADVISED OF THE ALTDEV. WE EXPLAINED THAT WE HAD CANCELED IFR AND WERE CONFUSED ON THE CTLR'S 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.