Pilot of C172 began descent out of assigned altitude when he misinterped ZMP controller's clearance to proceed direct to LOM, maintain 5000 ft for the runway 31 ILS approach to inl.

Home

Browse by month

Random

Latest

About

Contact

Attributes
ACN	589012
Time
Date	200307
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : inl.airport
State Reference	MN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3300 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zmp.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : 31
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : instrument precision
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 3600
ASRS Report	589012
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Chart Or Publication ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

The controller asked our intentions for an instrument approach into international falls. We were at 7000 ft. I requested ILS runway 31 and was given direct raize at 5000 ft, 'report established inbound.' the approach to raize starts with a 14 NM arc from inl DME at 3300 ft. Once established on the approach as published, I began a descent as indicated to 3300 ft. This would establish the aircraft inbound to the LOM (raize). The center controller called an altitude deviation at this point and said I was supposed to remain at 5000 ft. My mistake was that I thought I had been 'cleared' for the approach, but the controller said that he only wanted me at 5000 ft over the LOM. As I was #1 for the airport, the confusion came because there is no way I could descend from the LOM at 5000 ft to land and therefore could not make a normal approach. I should have not commenced the approach. The controller should have been more specific and used the terms report established if he was not going to authority/authorized the approach.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF C172 BEGAN DSCNT OUT OF ASSIGNED ALT WHEN HE MISINTERPED ZMP CTLR'S CLRNC TO PROCEED DIRECT TO LOM, MAINTAIN 5000 FT FOR THE RWY 31 ILS APCH TO INL.

Narrative: THE CTLR ASKED OUR INTENTIONS FOR AN INST APCH INTO INTL FALLS. WE WERE AT 7000 FT. I REQUESTED ILS RWY 31 AND WAS GIVEN DIRECT RAIZE AT 5000 FT, 'RPT ESTABLISHED INBOUND.' THE APCH TO RAIZE STARTS WITH A 14 NM ARC FROM INL DME AT 3300 FT. ONCE ESTABLISHED ON THE APCH AS PUBLISHED, I BEGAN A DSCNT AS INDICATED TO 3300 FT. THIS WOULD ESTABLISH THE ACFT INBOUND TO THE LOM (RAIZE). THE CTR CTLR CALLED AN ALTDEV AT THIS POINT AND SAID I WAS SUPPOSED TO REMAIN AT 5000 FT. MY MISTAKE WAS THAT I THOUGHT I HAD BEEN 'CLRED' FOR THE APCH, BUT THE CTLR SAID THAT HE ONLY WANTED ME AT 5000 FT OVER THE LOM. AS I WAS #1 FOR THE ARPT, THE CONFUSION CAME BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY I COULD DSND FROM THE LOM AT 5000 FT TO LAND AND THEREFORE COULD NOT MAKE A NORMAL APCH. I SHOULD HAVE NOT COMMENCED THE APCH. THE CTLR SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE SPECIFIC AND USED THE TERMS RPT ESTABLISHED IF HE WAS NOT GOING TO AUTH THE APCH.

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.