Challenger CL601
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 84; Flight Crew Total 14000; Flight Crew Type 705
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Human Factors
After crossing FIM VOR on the Fernando Five Arrival into Burbank we were cleared DIRECT to SILEX Intersection for the ILS Runway 8 Approach. We were then given an approach clearance that included 'cross SILEX at 3;000 FT; cleared for the ILS Runway 8 approach.' The pilot not flying read back the clearance as stated; set 3;000 FT in the Altitude Alerter and I verbally confirmed the altitude (which I also heard as 3;000 FT.) While descending through about 3;500 FT; ATC advised with a 'low altitude alert; check your altitude immediately' and stated that we had been cleared to 4;000 FT. We countered that we had been cleared to 3;000 FT at which point a new voice from ATC came on asking if we had the airport in sight; which we confirmed. He then issued a new clearance to cross VNY at 3;000 FT and cleared us for the visual approach to Runway 8. When we advised them that we had been cleared to cross SILEX at 3;000 FT and that we had read back the clearance as so; ATC did not respond. No further communications about the situation occurred between us and ATC.
IFR Corporate aircraft inbound to BUR was issued a 'low altitude alert' advisory after an apparent wrong altitude assignment by ATC.