Air carrier altitude deviation on jamm arrival. Descent below MVA.

Attributes
ACN	326501
Time
Date	199601
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : slc
State Reference	UT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : dtw
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 enroute airway : slc
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 4700 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	326501
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 6000
ASRS Report	326356
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were cleared jammn 1 arrival tracking slc 179 degree radial after crossing gronk. We set 12000 ft mistakenly in altitude window and descended to the altitude prior to the spiel restr of slc 179/23 at 13000 ft MSL. Contributing factors: turbulence, icing and small print on STAR. This was discovered by ATC. Noted MVA was 12600 ft. Inattn was not a factor because both pilots set and checked all course and altitude assignments per STAR, however the turbulence made it difficult to read the small print surrounding numerous altitude restrs. Callback conversation with TRACON supervisor revealed the following information: TRACON supervisor stated they have received many complaints about the jammn 1 arrival. Supervisor said the controller clearance is cleared for the jammn 1 arrival. Meeting is planned with pilots union and airline companies to try and improve the arrival.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR ALTDEV ON JAMM ARR. DSCNT BELOW MVA.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED JAMMN 1 ARR TRACKING SLC 179 DEG RADIAL AFTER XING GRONK. WE SET 12000 FT MISTAKENLY IN ALT WINDOW AND DSNDED TO THE ALT PRIOR TO THE SPIEL RESTR OF SLC 179/23 AT 13000 FT MSL. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: TURB, ICING AND SMALL PRINT ON STAR. THIS WAS DISCOVERED BY ATC. NOTED MVA WAS 12600 FT. INATTN WAS NOT A FACTOR BECAUSE BOTH PLTS SET AND CHKED ALL COURSE AND ALT ASSIGNMENTS PER STAR, HOWEVER THE TURB MADE IT DIFFICULT TO READ THE SMALL PRINT SURROUNDING NUMEROUS ALT RESTRS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH TRACON SUPVR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: TRACON SUPVR STATED THEY HAVE RECEIVED MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE JAMMN 1 ARR. SUPVR SAID THE CTLR CLRNC IS CLRED FOR THE JAMMN 1 ARR. MEETING IS PLANNED WITH PLTS UNION AND AIRLINE COMPANIES TO TRY AND IMPROVE THE ARR.

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.