<< >> NASA ASRS Report 257268, November 1993

When cleared for a 'STAR,' flight crew descended to the 'expect to cross' altitude without ATC clearance.

Attributes
ACN	257268
Time
Date	199311
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pmm
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 20000 msl bound upper : 21000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 4 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise 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
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 130 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 450
ASRS Report	257268
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : published procedure 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:

Then, read clearance for direct pmm, PMM2 arrival for ord. I checked the PMM2 arrival and saw expect clearance to FL200 at pmm, so I double-checked with copilot for altitude and clearance and we both agreed that the clearance received was clearance to descend to cross pmm at FL200. I selected 200 in the altitude window, punched the altitude knob and aircraft began descent to FL200. As we were leveling at FL200, ZAU called and requested our altitude. We replied leveling at FL200 for the PMM2 arrival. She replied that that was an 'expect clearance' only and that we should be at FL210. So, I climbed up to FL210 within 1 min or so and asked center if she hadn't given us 'direct pmm, PMM2 arrival.' she replied yes, and I said that with that clearance, lacking any mention of altitude in our original clearance, that we were to cross pmm at FL200 and proceed with the arrival. Isn't that what the arrs are about?

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WHEN CLRED FOR A 'STAR,' FLC DSNDED TO THE 'EXPECT TO CROSS' ALT WITHOUT ATC CLRNC.

Narrative: THEN, READ CLRNC FOR DIRECT PMM, PMM2 ARR FOR ORD. I CHKED THE PMM2 ARR AND SAW EXPECT CLRNC TO FL200 AT PMM, SO I DOUBLE-CHKED WITH COPLT FOR ALT AND CLRNC AND WE BOTH AGREED THAT THE CLRNC RECEIVED WAS CLRNC TO DSND TO CROSS PMM AT FL200. I SELECTED 200 IN THE ALT WINDOW, PUNCHED THE ALT KNOB AND ACFT BEGAN DSCNT TO FL200. AS WE WERE LEVELING AT FL200, ZAU CALLED AND REQUESTED OUR ALT. WE REPLIED LEVELING AT FL200 FOR THE PMM2 ARR. SHE REPLIED THAT THAT WAS AN 'EXPECT CLRNC' ONLY AND THAT WE SHOULD BE AT FL210. SO, I CLBED UP TO FL210 WITHIN 1 MIN OR SO AND ASKED CTR IF SHE HADN'T GIVEN US 'DIRECT PMM, PMM2 ARR.' SHE REPLIED YES, AND I SAID THAT WITH THAT CLRNC, LACKING ANY MENTION OF ALT IN OUR ORIGINAL CLRNC, THAT WE WERE TO CROSS PMM AT FL200 AND PROCEED WITH THE ARR. ISN'T THAT WHAT THE ARRS ARE ABOUT?

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.