Aircraft deviated from assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	113391
Time
Date	198906
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pxv
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7500 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	113391
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Because of more favorable winds, requested an altitude change from 8-6000'. Controller's transmission came back broken but readable. (2-ATP's on board.) I reported small transport X vacating 8000' for 6000' thinking if there were any problem he would answer with a negative. Instead he began talking to another aircraft. We interpreted that as he was too busy to communication properly and initiated our descent. Moments later center called us, 'small transport X show you out of 7500' descending (we were passing 7300') assigned 8000'.' since the strike I have become conditioned to a deteriorating quality of ATC communications. Before the strike you almost never had to call twice to raise ATC. Now you get 'I was on another frequency' or 'I was on the land line' or I suspect in this case poor technique. Background noise in the radar room is also a problem frequently. Pilots are expected to maintain a listening watch on the radio 'how about controllers?'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACFT DEVIATED FROM ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: BECAUSE OF MORE FAVORABLE WINDS, REQUESTED AN ALT CHANGE FROM 8-6000'. CTLR'S XMISSION CAME BACK BROKEN BUT READABLE. (2-ATP'S ON BOARD.) I REPORTED SMT X VACATING 8000' FOR 6000' THINKING IF THERE WERE ANY PROBLEM HE WOULD ANSWER WITH A NEGATIVE. INSTEAD HE BEGAN TALKING TO ANOTHER ACFT. WE INTERPRETED THAT AS HE WAS TOO BUSY TO COM PROPERLY AND INITIATED OUR DSCNT. MOMENTS LATER CENTER CALLED US, 'SMT X SHOW YOU OUT OF 7500' DSNDING (WE WERE PASSING 7300') ASSIGNED 8000'.' SINCE THE STRIKE I HAVE BECOME CONDITIONED TO A DETERIORATING QUALITY OF ATC COMS. BEFORE THE STRIKE YOU ALMOST NEVER HAD TO CALL TWICE TO RAISE ATC. NOW YOU GET 'I WAS ON ANOTHER FREQ' OR 'I WAS ON THE LAND LINE' OR I SUSPECT IN THIS CASE POOR TECHNIQUE. BACKGROUND NOISE IN THE RADAR ROOM IS ALSO A PROBLEM FREQUENTLY. PLTS ARE EXPECTED TO MAINTAIN A LISTENING WATCH ON THE RADIO 'HOW ABOUT CTLRS?'

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.