Heading, track and altitude deviation.

Attributes
ACN	144733
Time
Date	199005
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : geg
State Reference	WA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : geg
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other descent other
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival other enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 2200
ASRS Report	144733
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
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	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

The flight of cargo aircraft on an small transport twin was issued instructed from geg approach to descend from 7000 to 5000' and turn left to a heading of 030 degrees. The pilot responded to the instructions and stated he had the airport in sight. Approach control replied to expect a visibility approach to runway 21 at geg. The pilot continued to descend below 5000' VFR with the airport in sight and turned to a heading of 050 degrees. As the flight approached 4000' the controller inquired the altitude of the aircraft and the pilot responded. He was reminded by the controller that his altitude assignment was 5000' and heading 030 degrees, not altitude 3000' and heading 050 degrees. The controller then asked, as the pilot stopped his descent and began to climb, if pilot still had the airport insight and the pilot responded that he did, whereupon a visibility approach clearance was issued. There was no conflict nor any evasive actions required. The pilot had reversed the issued instructions. It would be hard to suggest any further safety recommendation than the current readback procedures in this situation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HEADING, TRACK AND ALT DEVIATION.

Narrative: THE FLT OF CARGO ACFT ON AN SMT TWIN WAS ISSUED INSTRUCTED FROM GEG APCH TO DSND FROM 7000 TO 5000' AND TURN LEFT TO A HDG OF 030 DEGS. THE PLT RESPONDED TO THE INSTRUCTIONS AND STATED HE HAD THE ARPT IN SIGHT. APCH CTL REPLIED TO EXPECT A VIS APCH TO RWY 21 AT GEG. THE PLT CONTINUED TO DSND BELOW 5000' VFR WITH THE ARPT IN SIGHT AND TURNED TO A HDG OF 050 DEGS. AS THE FLT APCHED 4000' THE CTLR INQUIRED THE ALT OF THE ACFT AND THE PLT RESPONDED. HE WAS REMINDED BY THE CTLR THAT HIS ALT ASSIGNMENT WAS 5000' AND HDG 030 DEGS, NOT ALT 3000' AND HDG 050 DEGS. THE CTLR THEN ASKED, AS THE PLT STOPPED HIS DSNT AND BEGAN TO CLB, IF PLT STILL HAD THE ARPT INSIGHT AND THE PLT RESPONDED THAT HE DID, WHEREUPON A VIS APCH CLRNC WAS ISSUED. THERE WAS NO CONFLICT NOR ANY EVASIVE ACTIONS REQUIRED. THE PLT HAD REVERSED THE ISSUED INSTRUCTIONS. IT WOULD BE HARD TO SUGGEST ANY FURTHER SAFETY RECOMMENDATION THAN THE CURRENT READBACK PROCS IN THIS SITUATION.

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.