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Flight crew climbs through FL350 toward FL390 when controller states he was assigned FL310. VHF static provoked the misunderstanding.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 323630 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199512 |
| Day | Tue |
| Local Time Of Day | 0001 To 0600 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : ptw |
| State Reference | NY |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 39000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zny |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Commercial Fixed Wing |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 135 |
| Flight Phase | climbout : intermediate altitude |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 2300 flight time type : 1700 |
| ASRS Report | 323630 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 2300 |
| ASRS Report | 323631 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance other |
| Consequence | faa : reviewed incident with flight crew |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | other |
Narrative:
We were climbing through 15000 ft for 17000 ft when center controller asked us for 'final altitude requested,' I responded 'FL390.' controller came back and cleared us for climb to FL390. We were picking up a lot of static noise. At the time, we were climbing through light precipitation. The controller switched us to next controller, and I checked in saying up to FL390. Controller acknowledged, passing FL350 climbing, the controller came back asking for our altitude I responded 'FL350 for FL390.' the controller asked, 'did I climb you.' we told him that last controller gave us FL390, and asked him what altitude he was showing as our assigned altitude. He responded, 'FL310, but it's no problem, climb and maintain FL390.' I believe the problem was caused by 3 things. The first was static in the radios, second the center computer was down and third the controller expected to hear us say FL310.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: FLC CLBS THROUGH FL350 TOWARD FL390 WHEN CTLR STATES HE WAS ASSIGNED FL310. VHF STATIC PROVOKED THE MISUNDERSTANDING.
Narrative: WE WERE CLBING THROUGH 15000 FT FOR 17000 FT WHEN CTR CTLR ASKED US FOR 'FINAL ALT REQUESTED,' I RESPONDED 'FL390.' CTLR CAME BACK AND CLRED US FOR CLB TO FL390. WE WERE PICKING UP A LOT OF STATIC NOISE. AT THE TIME, WE WERE CLBING THROUGH LIGHT PRECIPITATION. THE CTLR SWITCHED US TO NEXT CTLR, AND I CHKED IN SAYING UP TO FL390. CTLR ACKNOWLEDGED, PASSING FL350 CLBING, THE CTLR CAME BACK ASKING FOR OUR ALT I RESPONDED 'FL350 FOR FL390.' THE CTLR ASKED, 'DID I CLB YOU.' WE TOLD HIM THAT LAST CTLR GAVE US FL390, AND ASKED HIM WHAT ALT HE WAS SHOWING AS OUR ASSIGNED ALT. HE RESPONDED, 'FL310, BUT IT'S NO PROB, CLB AND MAINTAIN FL390.' I BELIEVE THE PROB WAS CAUSED BY 3 THINGS. THE FIRST WAS STATIC IN THE RADIOS, SECOND THE CTR COMPUTER WAS DOWN AND THIRD THE CTLR EXPECTED TO HEAR US SAY FL310.
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.