Delayed adherence to ATC clearance.

Attributes
ACN	209511
Time
Date	199205
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mem
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 23000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : sea
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zme
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer observation : company check pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 7500 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	209511
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance
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:

Departing memphis for kdca in foreign large transport aircraft level at 12000 ft. Given clearance to FL230. I read back the altitude, but the PF did not leave 12000 ft until 3-4 mins later when queried by center. Considerations: 'ACARS' was not installed on this aircraft which prompted a call to company frequency for 'departure times.' this diverted my attention to assure the PF set the proper altitude and initiated climb promptly. Another consideration was PF's inexperience in the large transport. Corrective action: make sure proper input to flight guidance and be extra vigilant when ACARS is inoperative on 2 pilot crew.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DELAYED ADHERENCE TO ATC CLRNC.

Narrative: DEPARTING MEMPHIS FOR KDCA IN FOREIGN LGT ACFT LEVEL AT 12000 FT. GIVEN CLRNC TO FL230. I READ BACK THE ALT, BUT THE PF DID NOT LEAVE 12000 FT UNTIL 3-4 MINS LATER WHEN QUERIED BY CTR. CONSIDERATIONS: 'ACARS' WAS NOT INSTALLED ON THIS ACFT WHICH PROMPTED A CALL TO COMPANY FREQ FOR 'DEP TIMES.' THIS DIVERTED MY ATTN TO ASSURE THE PF SET THE PROPER ALT AND INITIATED CLB PROMPTLY. ANOTHER CONSIDERATION WAS PF'S INEXPERIENCE IN THE LGT. CORRECTIVE ACTION: MAKE SURE PROPER INPUT TO FLT GUIDANCE AND BE EXTRA VIGILANT WHEN ACARS IS INOP ON 2 PLT CREW.

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.