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Medium large transport flight crew has altitude deviation due TCASII distraction and scanning for traffic.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 247212 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199307 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : fgt |
| State Reference | MN |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 6700 msl bound upper : 7000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | Marginal |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tower : dtw |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng |
| Flight Phase | cruise other descent : approach descent other |
| Route In Use | enroute : on vectors enroute airway : msp |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : cfi pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 12071 flight time type : 7250 |
| ASRS Report | 247212 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : became reoriented |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
We were on an assigned heading of 330 degrees and assigned speed 190 KTS and 7000 ft about 6-8 mi northwest of fgt VOR being vectored to msp airport. The approach controller on frequency 132.35 assigned us a new airspace of 170 KTS, about the same time I noticed a TCASII target at about the 5 O'clock position at minus 700. I was hand-flying the aircraft at this time and proceeded to slow to the new airspeed of 170 KTS and started watching the target on TCASII and looking outside at the same time -- scanning for the traffic. I lost a few hundred ft in altitude as a result of the distraction and just as the controller was calling to verify our altitude. I had already begun a correction. Simultaneously, TCASII gave a climb order, which we were already doing. Basically, the whole incident could have been avoided had I complied with our #1 cardinal rule -- that is 'fly the airplane.' I'll certainly be more careful in the future.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: MLG FLC HAS ALTDEV DUE TCASII DISTR AND SCANNING FOR TFC.
Narrative: WE WERE ON AN ASSIGNED HDG OF 330 DEGS AND ASSIGNED SPD 190 KTS AND 7000 FT ABOUT 6-8 MI NW OF FGT VOR BEING VECTORED TO MSP ARPT. THE APCH CTLR ON FREQ 132.35 ASSIGNED US A NEW AIRSPACE OF 170 KTS, ABOUT THE SAME TIME I NOTICED A TCASII TARGET AT ABOUT THE 5 O'CLOCK POS AT MINUS 700. I WAS HAND-FLYING THE ACFT AT THIS TIME AND PROCEEDED TO SLOW TO THE NEW AIRSPD OF 170 KTS AND STARTED WATCHING THE TARGET ON TCASII AND LOOKING OUTSIDE AT THE SAME TIME -- SCANNING FOR THE TFC. I LOST A FEW HUNDRED FT IN ALT AS A RESULT OF THE DISTR AND JUST AS THE CTLR WAS CALLING TO VERIFY OUR ALT. I HAD ALREADY BEGUN A CORRECTION. SIMULTANEOUSLY, TCASII GAVE A CLB ORDER, WHICH WE WERE ALREADY DOING. BASICALLY, THE WHOLE INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED HAD I COMPLIED WITH OUR #1 CARDINAL RULE -- THAT IS 'FLY THE AIRPLANE.' I'LL CERTAINLY BE MORE CAREFUL IN THE FUTURE.
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.