Approach controller claims air carrier medium large transport below required crossing altitude.

Attributes
ACN	96414
Time
Date	198810
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lga
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : circling approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	96414
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 6000
ASRS Report	96413
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation

Narrative:

Flying at 4000' on a 270 degree heading and 4 NM west of the lga VOR, the approach controller asks if I see a small transport at 9 O'clock on a visual base turn to final. We said we saw him. The controller then cleared us for a visual approach to runway 04 at lga. I rolled out on final at 2000' about 5 mi from the end of the runway. As I'm rolling out, the controller said we should have been at 2500' until on final. If he gave us this restriction, both the captain and I missed it. Nevertheless, the captain did not read back any altitude restriction when acknowledging our clearance for the visual approach.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: APCH CTLR CLAIMS ACR MLG BELOW REQUIRED CROSSING ALT.

Narrative: FLYING AT 4000' ON A 270 DEG HDG AND 4 NM W OF THE LGA VOR, THE APCH CTLR ASKS IF I SEE A SMT AT 9 O'CLOCK ON A VISUAL BASE TURN TO FINAL. WE SAID WE SAW HIM. THE CTLR THEN CLRED US FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 04 AT LGA. I ROLLED OUT ON FINAL AT 2000' ABOUT 5 MI FROM THE END OF THE RWY. AS I'M ROLLING OUT, THE CTLR SAID WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT 2500' UNTIL ON FINAL. IF HE GAVE US THIS RESTRICTION, BOTH THE CAPT AND I MISSED IT. NEVERTHELESS, THE CAPT DID NOT READ BACK ANY ALT RESTRICTION WHEN ACKNOWLEDGING OUR CLRNC FOR THE VISUAL APCH.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.