Tys approach controller challenges PA28 pilot's descent towards terrain.

Attributes
ACN	530038
Time
Date	200111
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl single value : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	other
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : tys.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Route In Use	enroute airway : v16.airway
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 350 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	530038
Person 2
Function	observation : passenger
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Tys approach asked, 'XXX, would you like to descend?' XXX: 'yes.' tys: 'XXX, start descent, expect #5 sdf into morristown.' XXX: 'descending out of 10000 ft, expect ....' I knew that terrain was a factor. I waited until I was at V16 and then started my descent at 500 FPM. At 7500 ft, ATC told me to climb immediately, as I was in an 8000 ft MVA. I did not receive a clearance for 8000 ft, nor did I acknowledge one. My passenger also remembered the question about descending and my lack of acknowledging an altitude. I believe the controller (who was very busy) should have had me acknowledge an altitude, if it was given. I will always ask for a target (cleared to) altitude in the future, if I don't receive one.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TYS APCH CTLR CHALLENGES PA28 PLT'S DSCNT TOWARDS TERRAIN.

Narrative: TYS APCH ASKED, 'XXX, WOULD YOU LIKE TO DSND?' XXX: 'YES.' TYS: 'XXX, START DSCNT, EXPECT #5 SDF INTO MORRISTOWN.' XXX: 'DSNDING OUT OF 10000 FT, EXPECT ....' I KNEW THAT TERRAIN WAS A FACTOR. I WAITED UNTIL I WAS AT V16 AND THEN STARTED MY DSCNT AT 500 FPM. AT 7500 FT, ATC TOLD ME TO CLB IMMEDIATELY, AS I WAS IN AN 8000 FT MVA. I DID NOT RECEIVE A CLRNC FOR 8000 FT, NOR DID I ACKNOWLEDGE ONE. MY PAX ALSO REMEMBERED THE QUESTION ABOUT DSNDING AND MY LACK OF ACKNOWLEDGING AN ALT. I BELIEVE THE CTLR (WHO WAS VERY BUSY) SHOULD HAVE HAD ME ACKNOWLEDGE AN ALT, IF IT WAS GIVEN. I WILL ALWAYS ASK FOR A TARGET (CLRED TO) ALT IN THE FUTURE, IF I DON'T RECEIVE ONE.

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.