An MD80 captain reported being confused about which altitude to stop at when talking to day.

Attributes
ACN	512890
Time
Date	200105
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : day.airport
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 13650 msl bound upper : 14000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : zzz.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	512890
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : far non adherence : clearance non adherence : company policies
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Stopped descent at clearance limit of 14000 ft. Checked in with approach control who said (I think) 'expect visual approach for runway 6R, cleared direct bruny.' I was tired, 5 leg day, WX delays, and WX deviations. Had been on duty 12 hours 40 mins so far. I guess I got visual runway 6R in my mind, so I started down (even though we were too far out to accept a visual). The altitude alerter went off, so I stopped my descent at 13650 ft and asked approach what he cleared us to (altitude). Approach was confused. I was confused -- I knew then I was wrong, so I climbed back to 14000 ft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD80 CAPT RPTED BEING CONFUSED ABOUT WHICH ALT TO STOP AT WHEN TALKING TO DAY.

Narrative: STOPPED DSCNT AT CLRNC LIMIT OF 14000 FT. CHKED IN WITH APCH CTL WHO SAID (I THINK) 'EXPECT VISUAL APCH FOR RWY 6R, CLRED DIRECT BRUNY.' I WAS TIRED, 5 LEG DAY, WX DELAYS, AND WX DEVS. HAD BEEN ON DUTY 12 HRS 40 MINS SO FAR. I GUESS I GOT VISUAL RWY 6R IN MY MIND, SO I STARTED DOWN (EVEN THOUGH WE WERE TOO FAR OUT TO ACCEPT A VISUAL). THE ALT ALERTER WENT OFF, SO I STOPPED MY DSCNT AT 13650 FT AND ASKED APCH WHAT HE CLRED US TO (ALT). APCH WAS CONFUSED. I WAS CONFUSED -- I KNEW THEN I WAS WRONG, SO I CLBED BACK TO 14000 FT.

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.