Regional Jet 700 ER/LR (CRJ700)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Total 19250
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Human Factors; Procedure; Weather
While on approach at 4;000 FT; we asked the Approach Controller if we were cleared to intercept the course. The Controller then said you are cleared to intercept the approach to GPS 19. We thought he had cleared us for the approach and started a descent to 2;000 FT. Passing 3;300 FT the Controller said; 'You're a little low; but now continue to 2;000 FT.' Because of wind shear off the departure end of Runway 19; we elected to use Runway 10. The event happened because the Controller kept us up high and we didn't want to be unstabilized on the approach. When the Controller gave the clearance to intercept the approach we just misinterpreted it as 'cleared for the approach.' To avoid this in the future I think the controllers could descend us earlier to the initial approach altitude and at the first sign of wind shear on that particular runway send us to a different runway.
ATC clearance was not quite clear and precise; nor did we question or clarify our clearance. I'm going to question any clearance that is not clear.
CRJ-700 flight crew descended from assigned altitude after misinterpreting ATC instruction; 'Cleared to intercept the approach' as clearance for the approach.