Air carrier medium large transport altitude deviation excursion from clearance altitude. Started des...

Attributes
ACN	197753
Time
Date	199112
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bna
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 23000 msl bound upper : 24000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	197753
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 45 flight time total : 4742 flight time type : 80
ASRS Report	197659
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : far 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:

Operating under flight plan which includes volls 1 arrival into kbna. Flight plan states 'cross volls at 250 KTS and 11000 ft.' getting very close to top of descent point if we are to be cleared to make volls intersection at 250/11000. ZTL states 'cleared for volls 1 arrival, switch to ZTL (frequency).' due to heavy communication radio traffic, first officer was delayed in calling ZTL on new frequency. I felt that I had to start descent or I would never have made volls at 250/11000. (Our TCASII showed no traffic below us within 40 NM.) I began descent out of FL240. First officer finally got through to ZTL on new frequency. She asked who cleared us to leave FL240, I replied, no one, but if we are to make volls at 250/11000, we had to begin our descent, but we will go back to FL240 if she wanted us to. She said to continue descent to cross volls at 250/11000, then said that there is often misinterp by pilots as to when to begin descent. I have 2 recommendations: 1) when communication radio traffic is heavy, center should instruct, 'cleared volls 1 arrival, maintain FL240, switch to ZTL (frequency).' or 'cleared volls 1 arrival, cross volls at 11000 ft, 250 KTS, switch to ZTL (frequency).' 2) notify pilots early enough so that we can make airspeed and altitude constraints within the capabilities of our aircraft - - at least before the 3 X 1 point. Finally, there was no traffic conflict.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG ALTDEV EXCURSION FROM CLRNC ALT. STARTED DSCNT ON STAR BEFORE BEING CLRED BECAUSE HE WANTED TO MAKE 'EXPECT' ALT AND SPD.

Narrative: OPERATING UNDER FLT PLAN WHICH INCLUDES VOLLS 1 ARR INTO KBNA. FLT PLAN STATES 'CROSS VOLLS AT 250 KTS AND 11000 FT.' GETTING VERY CLOSE TO TOP OF DSCNT POINT IF WE ARE TO BE CLRED TO MAKE VOLLS INTXN AT 250/11000. ZTL STATES 'CLRED FOR VOLLS 1 ARR, SWITCH TO ZTL (FREQ).' DUE TO HVY COM RADIO TFC, FO WAS DELAYED IN CALLING ZTL ON NEW FREQ. I FELT THAT I HAD TO START DSCNT OR I WOULD NEVER HAVE MADE VOLLS AT 250/11000. (OUR TCASII SHOWED NO TFC BELOW US WITHIN 40 NM.) I BEGAN DSCNT OUT OF FL240. FO FINALLY GOT THROUGH TO ZTL ON NEW FREQ. SHE ASKED WHO CLRED US TO LEAVE FL240, I REPLIED, NO ONE, BUT IF WE ARE TO MAKE VOLLS AT 250/11000, WE HAD TO BEGIN OUR DSCNT, BUT WE WILL GO BACK TO FL240 IF SHE WANTED US TO. SHE SAID TO CONTINUE DSCNT TO CROSS VOLLS AT 250/11000, THEN SAID THAT THERE IS OFTEN MISINTERP BY PLTS AS TO WHEN TO BEGIN DSCNT. I HAVE 2 RECOMMENDATIONS: 1) WHEN COM RADIO TFC IS HVY, CENTER SHOULD INSTRUCT, 'CLRED VOLLS 1 ARR, MAINTAIN FL240, SWITCH TO ZTL (FREQ).' OR 'CLRED VOLLS 1 ARR, CROSS VOLLS AT 11000 FT, 250 KTS, SWITCH TO ZTL (FREQ).' 2) NOTIFY PLTS EARLY ENOUGH SO THAT WE CAN MAKE AIRSPD AND ALT CONSTRAINTS WITHIN THE CAPABILITIES OF OUR ACFT - - AT LEAST BEFORE THE 3 X 1 POINT. FINALLY, THERE WAS NO TFC CONFLICT.

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.

Air carrier medium large transport altitude deviation excursion from clearance altitude. Started descent on STAR before being cleared because he wanted to make 'expect' altitude and speed.