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On clearance 'cross 70 DME at 27,000, descend at pilot's discretion', air carrier medium large transport flight crew forgets to descend.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 136706 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199002 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 0001 To 0600 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : ric |
| State Reference | VA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 27000 msl bound upper : 33000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng |
| Flight Phase | cruise other descent other |
| Route In Use | enroute airway : j165 |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 60 |
| ASRS Report | 136706 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial pilot : instrument |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : undershoot altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance |
| Independent Detector | other controllera other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : insufficient time |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
In cruise at 33,000 inbound to richmond on J165. ZDC issued a conditional clearance to cross 70 mi south of ric at 27,000. This clearance was issued approximately 130 mi south of ric on frequency 127.75. The WX was clear and no conflict arose from this situation. The first officer flying the aircraft did not initiate descent as requested. When questioned by the captain at 70 mi south of ric an immediate descent was started. ZDC was notified and the controller said that the delayed descent did not present a problem. Corrective action: conditional clrncs are issued to save fuel and money. I would consider the fuel savings negligible in comparison with the potential problems. I recommend that conditional clrncs not be given.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ON CLRNC 'CROSS 70 DME AT 27,000, DESCEND AT PLT'S DISCRETION', ACR MLG FLT CREW FORGETS TO DESCEND.
Narrative: IN CRUISE AT 33,000 INBND TO RICHMOND ON J165. ZDC ISSUED A CONDITIONAL CLRNC TO CROSS 70 MI S OF RIC AT 27,000. THIS CLRNC WAS ISSUED APPROX 130 MI S OF RIC ON FREQ 127.75. THE WX WAS CLEAR AND NO CONFLICT AROSE FROM THIS SITUATION. THE F/O FLYING THE ACFT DID NOT INITIATE DSCNT AS REQUESTED. WHEN QUESTIONED BY THE CAPT AT 70 MI S OF RIC AN IMMEDIATE DSCNT WAS STARTED. ZDC WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CTLR SAID THAT THE DELAYED DSCNT DID NOT PRESENT A PROBLEM. CORRECTIVE ACTION: CONDITIONAL CLRNCS ARE ISSUED TO SAVE FUEL AND MONEY. I WOULD CONSIDER THE FUEL SAVINGS NEGLIGIBLE IN COMPARISON WITH THE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS. I RECOMMEND THAT CONDITIONAL CLRNCS NOT BE GIVEN.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.