Reporter flight began climb to what they thought was an assigned altitude. After contacting the next sector ATC they were advised that the climb was in error and to return to their previously cleared altitude.

Home

Browse by month

Random

Latest

About

Contact

Attributes
ACN	108118
Time
Date	198904
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : jvc
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	108118
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation

Narrative:

In cruise at FL330, ATC assigned us a 350 degree heading direct irq VOR when able and climb to FL350. Then in the same breath, a frequency change. Captain read back all of the above, waited, received no response, then changed to the new frequency. I initiated a climb to FL350 and turned to a 35 degree heading. Upon establishing contact with the next controller (frequency 135.47) we were told to descend from our present altitude (FL340) to FL330 as that was our cleared altitude. No conflict occurred. When the first controller assigned us a 350 degree heading, we were discussing requesting FL350 to find smooth air. We 'heard' 350 degrees and FL350 and read the same back. The controller must have 'heard' only 350 degrees. The bottom line: listen up! You can hear what you want to hear sometimes. Contributing factor: the controller was really overworked, extremely busy. We need more controllers now.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: REPORTER FLT BEGAN CLIMB TO WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS AN ASSIGNED ALT. AFTER CONTACTING THE NEXT SECTOR ATC THEY WERE ADVISED THAT THE CLIMB WAS IN ERROR AND TO RETURN TO THEIR PREVIOUSLY CLEARED ALT.

Narrative: IN CRUISE AT FL330, ATC ASSIGNED US A 350 DEG HDG DIRECT IRQ VOR WHEN ABLE AND CLB TO FL350. THEN IN THE SAME BREATH, A FREQ CHANGE. CAPT READ BACK ALL OF THE ABOVE, WAITED, RECEIVED NO RESPONSE, THEN CHANGED TO THE NEW FREQ. I INITIATED A CLB TO FL350 AND TURNED TO A 35 DEG HDG. UPON ESTABLISHING CONTACT WITH THE NEXT CTLR (FREQ 135.47) WE WERE TOLD TO DSND FROM OUR PRESENT ALT (FL340) TO FL330 AS THAT WAS OUR CLRED ALT. NO CONFLICT OCCURRED. WHEN THE FIRST CTLR ASSIGNED US A 350 DEG HDG, WE WERE DISCUSSING REQUESTING FL350 TO FIND SMOOTH AIR. WE 'HEARD' 350 DEGS AND FL350 AND READ THE SAME BACK. THE CTLR MUST HAVE 'HEARD' ONLY 350 DEGS. THE BOTTOM LINE: LISTEN UP! YOU CAN HEAR WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR SOMETIMES. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR: THE CTLR WAS REALLY OVERWORKED, EXTREMELY BUSY. WE NEED MORE CTLRS NOW.

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.