Narrative:

On an IFR flight plan, in clear WX, near the end of the flight, I was told by knoxville approach to descend to what I thought was 2000 ft MSL. Upon reaching 2500 ft, I thought that I was fairly low and was about to call knoxville approach for verification of assigned altitude. At that moment, knoxville approach called me reference 2500 ft. Controller said that I was supposed to be at 3000 ft. I mentioned that I was concerned about descending to 2000 ft and was just about to call for verification. Upon clarification, I apologized for misunderstanding the assigned altitude, stating that I thought it was 2000 ft. During this time, WX was clear, there was no other traffic (known), and no person or property was in danger.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PIPER PA28 PLT DURING IFR FLT DSNDED BELOW INTERMEDIATE DSCNT ALT DURING APCH TRANSITION.

Narrative: ON AN IFR FLT PLAN, IN CLR WX, NEAR THE END OF THE FLT, I WAS TOLD BY KNOXVILLE APCH TO DSND TO WHAT I THOUGHT WAS 2000 FT MSL. UPON REACHING 2500 FT, I THOUGHT THAT I WAS FAIRLY LOW AND WAS ABOUT TO CALL KNOXVILLE APCH FOR VERIFICATION OF ASSIGNED ALT. AT THAT MOMENT, KNOXVILLE APCH CALLED ME REF 2500 FT. CTLR SAID THAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AT 3000 FT. I MENTIONED THAT I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT DSNDING TO 2000 FT AND WAS JUST ABOUT TO CALL FOR VERIFICATION. UPON CLARIFICATION, I APOLOGIZED FOR MISUNDERSTANDING THE ASSIGNED ALT, STATING THAT I THOUGHT IT WAS 2000 FT. DURING THIS TIME, WX WAS CLR, THERE WAS NO OTHER TFC (KNOWN), AND NO PERSON OR PROPERTY WAS IN DANGER.

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.