oggers:
...my point is that because of that accident you are reminded to "maintain [assigned altitude] until established" when you are vectored to intercept the localiser. As opposed to assuming you will maintain it. This thread has convinced me that is a wise move by the FAA.
Indeed it was. The circumstances of the accident were more complex. The flight was coming from KIND. Washington Center cleared the flight to intercept the AML 301 radial some 35 miles from the airport and descend to 7,000. Then the center handed the flight off to Dulles Approach Control. The Approach Controller issued no lower altitude. He simply cleared the flight for the approach. Had they maintained 7,000 to the final approach fix they would have been about 5,000 feet too high. So, they were caught with a lousy clearance and a deficient approach chart.