 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
Pilot of small transport on an IFR flight plan near gdm is initially told to expedite his descent to 6000', then later told that he was only cleared to 7000'. Flight crew ATC review determined that there was an operational error by the ZBW controller.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 125860 |
| Time | |
| Date | 198910 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : gdm |
| State Reference | MA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 6000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zbw |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng |
| Flight Phase | cruise other cruise other descent other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : private |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 7000 |
| ASRS Report | 125860 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | non adherence : required legal separation other anomaly |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance other |
| Consequence | faa : investigated Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Operational Error |
Narrative:
On an IFR flight from pwm to baf level at 8000' direct gdm, I requested direct at approximately 10 mi northeast gdm. The controller's response was 'descend and maintain 7000'.' we complied. On the way to 7000' the controller asked for best rate to 6500'. We initiated a 1500 FPM descent to 6000'. Between 7000 and 6000' the controller questioned our altitude and told us we were supposed to be at 7000'. We climbed to 7000'. We were told we were issued 7000'. I called center to listen to the tapes. I had a qualified witness and he said the controller gave us 6000'. After call to center, conclusion controller operational error.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PLT OF SMT ON AN IFR FLT PLAN NEAR GDM IS INITIALLY TOLD TO EXPEDITE HIS DESCENT TO 6000', THEN LATER TOLD THAT HE WAS ONLY CLEARED TO 7000'. FLT CREW ATC REVIEW DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS AN OPERATIONAL ERROR BY THE ZBW CTLR.
Narrative: ON AN IFR FLT FROM PWM TO BAF LEVEL AT 8000' DIRECT GDM, I REQUESTED DIRECT AT APPROX 10 MI NE GDM. THE CTLR'S RESPONSE WAS 'DSND AND MAINTAIN 7000'.' WE COMPLIED. ON THE WAY TO 7000' THE CTLR ASKED FOR BEST RATE TO 6500'. WE INITIATED A 1500 FPM DSCNT TO 6000'. BTWN 7000 AND 6000' THE CTLR QUESTIONED OUR ALT AND TOLD US WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE AT 7000'. WE CLBED TO 7000'. WE WERE TOLD WE WERE ISSUED 7000'. I CALLED CENTER TO LISTEN TO THE TAPES. I HAD A QUALIFIED WITNESS AND HE SAID THE CTLR GAVE US 6000'. AFTER CALL TO CENTER, CONCLUSION CTLR OPERROR.
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.