<< >> NASA ASRS Report 320743, November 1995

Flight crew of an medium large transport responded to another aircraft's clearance and descended from assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	320743
Time
Date	199511
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mkg
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 26000 msl bound upper : 28000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 30
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 225 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	320743
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	other other : other pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	321046
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance 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:

Flight X en route from lga to mke had been cleared from cruise altitude of 31000 ft to 28000 ft for crossing traffic. While level at 28000 ft we heard a call for air carrier to descend to 24000 ft. I read back 'air carrier descend to 24000 ft' and dialed in 24000 ft into the altitude alerter. No other communication was heard from ATC until passing through 26000 ft when ATC (frequency 132.27) called, 'air carrier say altitude.' I responded 'descending through 26000 ft for 24000 ft.' ATC responded 'you were not cleared to 24000 ft, level off at 26000 ft.' I responded that I had heard our descent clearance to 24000 ft and read back air carrier to 24000 ft. No other communication was discussed regarding the altitude assignment, and leveled at 26000 ft.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF AN MLG RESPONDED TO ANOTHER ACFT'S CLRNC AND DSNDED FROM ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: FLT X EN RTE FROM LGA TO MKE HAD BEEN CLRED FROM CRUISE ALT OF 31000 FT TO 28000 FT FOR XING TFC. WHILE LEVEL AT 28000 FT WE HEARD A CALL FOR ACR TO DSND TO 24000 FT. I READ BACK 'ACR DSND TO 24000 FT' AND DIALED IN 24000 FT INTO THE ALT ALERTER. NO OTHER COM WAS HEARD FROM ATC UNTIL PASSING THROUGH 26000 FT WHEN ATC (FREQ 132.27) CALLED, 'ACR SAY ALT.' I RESPONDED 'DSNDING THROUGH 26000 FT FOR 24000 FT.' ATC RESPONDED 'YOU WERE NOT CLRED TO 24000 FT, LEVEL OFF AT 26000 FT.' I RESPONDED THAT I HAD HEARD OUR DSCNT CLRNC TO 24000 FT AND READ BACK ACR TO 24000 FT. NO OTHER COM WAS DISCUSSED REGARDING THE ALT ASSIGNMENT, AND LEVELED AT 26000 FT.

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.