Flight crew excursion from assigned altitude. Pilot deviation.

Attributes
ACN	131126
Time
Date	198912
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : odf
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 27000 msl bound upper : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time type : 1300
ASRS Report	131126
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 208 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 6500
ASRS Report	131197
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

90 mi north of odf, cleared to FL390 with crossing restriction of 50 NM north of odf at FL250. Frequency change. Check in was 'air carrier X, FL390 to cross 50 north of odf at FL250.' response from ATC: 'roger air carrier X, descend to 290 and comply with the crossing restriction.' air carrier X: 'out of 390 to 290, cross 50 out at 250.' center: 'roger.' passing FL275 in descent to FL250, ATC asked altitude and we responded 'out of 270.' center said, 'you were to maintain 290, and the crossing restriction was 350.' short discussion followed and ATC cleared us to FL240, with advisory we were clear of traffic. Communicate: controller to controller, and to pilot. If you want an altitude crossing restriction deleted, say so! If you want an altitude to be maintained, say so. Make sure there is no question as to what instructions are, and if they can be done. Basic. Supplemental information from acn 131197: 1) jet aircraft should be communicated at maximum noise restrictions inside the cockpit! These limits should be much lower than present cockpits! 2) do away with 'expect' clrncs! Either give the restriction with no limits or do not.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW EXCURSION FROM ASSIGNED ALT. PLT DEVIATION.

Narrative: 90 MI N OF ODF, CLRED TO FL390 WITH XING RESTRICTION OF 50 NM N OF ODF AT FL250. FREQ CHANGE. CHK IN WAS 'ACR X, FL390 TO CROSS 50 N OF ODF AT FL250.' RESPONSE FROM ATC: 'ROGER ACR X, DSND TO 290 AND COMPLY WITH THE XING RESTRICTION.' ACR X: 'OUT OF 390 TO 290, CROSS 50 OUT AT 250.' CENTER: 'ROGER.' PASSING FL275 IN DSCNT TO FL250, ATC ASKED ALT AND WE RESPONDED 'OUT OF 270.' CENTER SAID, 'YOU WERE TO MAINTAIN 290, AND THE XING RESTRICTION WAS 350.' SHORT DISCUSSION FOLLOWED AND ATC CLRED US TO FL240, WITH ADVISORY WE WERE CLR OF TFC. COMMUNICATE: CTLR TO CTLR, AND TO PLT. IF YOU WANT AN ALT XING RESTRICTION DELETED, SAY SO! IF YOU WANT AN ALT TO BE MAINTAINED, SAY SO. MAKE SURE THERE IS NO QUESTION AS TO WHAT INSTRUCTIONS ARE, AND IF THEY CAN BE DONE. BASIC. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 131197: 1) JET ACFT SHOULD BE COMMUNICATED AT MAX NOISE RESTRICTIONS INSIDE THE COCKPIT! THESE LIMITS SHOULD BE MUCH LOWER THAN PRESENT COCKPITS! 2) DO AWAY WITH 'EXPECT' CLRNCS! EITHER GIVE THE RESTRICTION WITH NO LIMITS OR DO NOT.

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.