<< >> NASA ASRS Report 317981, October 1995

Altitude deviation altitude excursion from assigned altitude during an amended clearance altitude change.

Attributes
ACN	317981
Time
Date	199510
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : aus
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 26000 msl bound upper : 27000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zhu
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 9300 flight time type : 4400
ASRS Report	317981
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
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:

While at our assigned altitude of 28000 ft, we were cleared to 24000 ft at our discretion. After a couple of minutes, ATC told us to 'descend now to 27000 ft.' we vacated 28000 ft thinking that we were still cleared to 24000 ft. When we reached 26000 ft ATC said that we were only cleared to 27000 ft. We were given a short vector and told to go on down to 24000 ft. When we were given 'descend now to 27000 ft' neither pilot heard the word 'maintain.' that one word is critical to all altitude assignments.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV ALT EXCURSION FROM ASSIGNED ALT DURING AN AMENDED CLRNC ALT CHANGE.

Narrative: WHILE AT OUR ASSIGNED ALT OF 28000 FT, WE WERE CLRED TO 24000 FT AT OUR DISCRETION. AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES, ATC TOLD US TO 'DSND NOW TO 27000 FT.' WE VACATED 28000 FT THINKING THAT WE WERE STILL CLRED TO 24000 FT. WHEN WE REACHED 26000 FT ATC SAID THAT WE WERE ONLY CLRED TO 27000 FT. WE WERE GIVEN A SHORT VECTOR AND TOLD TO GO ON DOWN TO 24000 FT. WHEN WE WERE GIVEN 'DSND NOW TO 27000 FT' NEITHER PLT HEARD THE WORD 'MAINTAIN.' THAT ONE WORD IS CRITICAL TO ALL ALT ASSIGNMENTS.

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.