After receiving clearance for descent in holding pattern, the PF either didn't hear the clearance or was distracted. ATC questioned them if they were dnsdng.

Home

Browse by month

Random

Latest

About

Contact

Attributes
ACN	325680
Time
Date	199601
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dtw
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 13000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 28 flight time total : 2770 flight time type : 1324
ASRS Report	325680
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Holding at spica with several other aircraft stacked above and below. ZOB cleared us to intercept the radial, fly inbound, descend to 12000 ft (from 13000 ft). I set 12000 ft in the awi (altitude warning indicator) but failed to insure the captain (PF) initiated the descent. Approximately 30 seconds later the controller queried us on our altitude, at this point I realized we had not begun the descent. I replied we were out of 13000 ft for 12000 ft. The controller replied affirmative or 'roger' and we descended to 12000 ft. I don't think there was a conflict (no other aircraft were on TCASII at that time and no warnings received), but I am not sure. Better CRM would have prevented this situation. WX was near minimums at dtw, the radio was very busy. Cockpit workload was high due to fact we were making fuel calculations and updating the WX via ATIS.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AFTER RECEIVING CLRNC FOR DSCNT IN HOLDING PATTERN, THE PF EITHER DIDN'T HEAR THE CLRNC OR WAS DISTRACTED. ATC QUESTIONED THEM IF THEY WERE DNSDNG.

Narrative: HOLDING AT SPICA WITH SEVERAL OTHER ACFT STACKED ABOVE AND BELOW. ZOB CLRED US TO INTERCEPT THE RADIAL, FLY INBOUND, DSND TO 12000 FT (FROM 13000 FT). I SET 12000 FT IN THE AWI (ALT WARNING INDICATOR) BUT FAILED TO INSURE THE CAPT (PF) INITIATED THE DSCNT. APPROX 30 SECONDS LATER THE CTLR QUERIED US ON OUR ALT, AT THIS POINT I REALIZED WE HAD NOT BEGUN THE DSCNT. I REPLIED WE WERE OUT OF 13000 FT FOR 12000 FT. THE CTLR REPLIED AFFIRMATIVE OR 'ROGER' AND WE DSNDED TO 12000 FT. I DON'T THINK THERE WAS A CONFLICT (NO OTHER ACFT WERE ON TCASII AT THAT TIME AND NO WARNINGS RECEIVED), BUT I AM NOT SURE. BETTER CRM WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS SIT. WX WAS NEAR MINIMUMS AT DTW, THE RADIO WAS VERY BUSY. COCKPIT WORKLOAD WAS HIGH DUE TO FACT WE WERE MAKING FUEL CALCULATIONS AND UPDATING THE WX VIA ATIS.

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.