Altitude deviation altitude undershot in descent.

Attributes
ACN	319157
Time
Date	199510
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : phx
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 16000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab tracon : phx tower : tjbq
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer observation : company check pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 25000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	319157
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 8000
ASRS Report	319154
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : undershoot altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure non adherence other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On an instructional flight, checking out a new captain, we were cleared to cross plsnt at 12000 ft. During descent, the captain under training confused the DME, used omega DME versus VOR DME. We lost radio communication with ZAB who was trying to switch us to phoenix approach control. I believe the volume control knob had been inadvertently turned too low for reception. When we found the problem, we switched to approach control and told them we would not reach our plsnt altitude clearance and I asked if they wanted a 360 degree turn. They said 'no' and gave us a vector heading to the phx runway 26R. To my knowledge, no violations occurred, but we would have been very high at plsnt. The problem was with the new captain confusing the DME VOR/omega and with the radio problem, I did not notice this obvious error. One of the possible problems is when we channel frequencys, sometimes the volume control is also affected which I think was the problem here.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV ALT UNDERSHOT IN DSCNT.

Narrative: ON AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLT, CHKING OUT A NEW CAPT, WE WERE CLRED TO CROSS PLSNT AT 12000 FT. DURING DSCNT, THE CAPT UNDER TRAINING CONFUSED THE DME, USED OMEGA DME VERSUS VOR DME. WE LOST RADIO COM WITH ZAB WHO WAS TRYING TO SWITCH US TO PHOENIX APCH CTL. I BELIEVE THE VOLUME CTL KNOB HAD BEEN INADVERTENTLY TURNED TOO LOW FOR RECEPTION. WHEN WE FOUND THE PROB, WE SWITCHED TO APCH CTL AND TOLD THEM WE WOULD NOT REACH OUR PLSNT ALT CLRNC AND I ASKED IF THEY WANTED A 360 DEG TURN. THEY SAID 'NO' AND GAVE US A VECTOR HDG TO THE PHX RWY 26R. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, NO VIOLATIONS OCCURRED, BUT WE WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY HIGH AT PLSNT. THE PROB WAS WITH THE NEW CAPT CONFUSING THE DME VOR/OMEGA AND WITH THE RADIO PROB, I DID NOT NOTICE THIS OBVIOUS ERROR. ONE OF THE POSSIBLE PROBS IS WHEN WE CHANNEL FREQS, SOMETIMES THE VOLUME CTL IS ALSO AFFECTED WHICH I THINK WAS THE PROB HERE.

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.