<< >> NASA ASRS Report 343770, August 1996

An atx cargo MU2 flight crew descends below their assigned altitude and the approach controller corrects.

Attributes
ACN	343770
Time
Date	199608
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ric
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2200 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ric tower : cae
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	MU-2
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	343770
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : far non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

I thought controller said descend and maintain 2000 ft. I read back 2000 ft and set that altitude in the box. When I was at about 2200 ft, the controller said, 'say your altitude, assigned altitude was 3000 ft.' if the controller had listened to my readback, the misunderstanding could have been avoided.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ATX CARGO MU2 FLC DSNDS BELOW THEIR ASSIGNED ALT AND THE APCH CTLR CORRECTS.

Narrative: I THOUGHT CTLR SAID DSND AND MAINTAIN 2000 FT. I READ BACK 2000 FT AND SET THAT ALT IN THE BOX. WHEN I WAS AT ABOUT 2200 FT, THE CTLR SAID, 'SAY YOUR ALT, ASSIGNED ALT WAS 3000 FT.' IF THE CTLR HAD LISTENED TO MY READBACK, THE MISUNDERSTANDING COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.

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.