Md super 80 captain descended off of approach transition altitude prior to visual approach clearance due to the relative high and close-in altitude on base leg to which they had been vectored.

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Attributes
ACN	546646
Time
Date	200204
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dfw.airport
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3750 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : dfw.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : dfw.tower
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	546646
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Environmental Factor Flight Crew Human Performance Airspace Structure
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were told to turn 090 degree heading for base, call the visual. We spotted traffic going to the east side of dfw. We were then told to turn 020 degree heading and call the visual. I was watching the traffic and looking for the runway. In the process of turning for our runway, which was runway 36L, I called visual and noticed that I was 250 ft below our assigned altitude of 4000 ft. The controller cleared me for the visual. The traffic on the other side of the field was of concern to me. Next time, I will call the visual before leaving my altitude, especially at busy fields like dfw.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD SUPER 80 CAPT DSNDED OFF OF APCH TRANSITION ALT PRIOR TO VISUAL APCH CLRNC DUE TO THE RELATIVE HIGH AND CLOSE-IN ALT ON BASE LEG TO WHICH THEY HAD BEEN VECTORED.

Narrative: WE WERE TOLD TO TURN 090 DEG HDG FOR BASE, CALL THE VISUAL. WE SPOTTED TFC GOING TO THE E SIDE OF DFW. WE WERE THEN TOLD TO TURN 020 DEG HDG AND CALL THE VISUAL. I WAS WATCHING THE TFC AND LOOKING FOR THE RWY. IN THE PROCESS OF TURNING FOR OUR RWY, WHICH WAS RWY 36L, I CALLED VISUAL AND NOTICED THAT I WAS 250 FT BELOW OUR ASSIGNED ALT OF 4000 FT. THE CTLR CLRED ME FOR THE VISUAL. THE TFC ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FIELD WAS OF CONCERN TO ME. NEXT TIME, I WILL CALL THE VISUAL BEFORE LEAVING MY ALT, ESPECIALLY AT BUSY FIELDS LIKE DFW.

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.