<< >> NASA ASRS Report 361730, February 1997

Captain of a B737-200 descended below assigned departure altitude when responding to another aircraft's clearance, which included a frequency and altitude change.

Attributes
ACN	361730
Time
Date	199702
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sax
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 15000 msl bound upper : 17000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : spi
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors enroute airway : n90
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 17000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	361730
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On the last flight, of the last day of five and while handling the radios, I thought that I was directed to fly 280 degrees to intercept the sparta VOR departure radial. Then I responded to a frequency change that was given to another aircraft. Suddenly I realized my mistake and told my copilot that I believed that I had accepted an altitude clearance that belonged to another flight, as well as an incorrect frequency change. As we returned to the correct frequency, I began a descent back toward 15000 ft. The previous controller advised that we had the clearance to 17000 ft and he reclred us again. As best that I can recall, my first mistake was the acceptance of another flight's frequency change. My second error was the initiation of a descent back toward 15000 ft without adequate crew resource management. I should have verified my clearance accuracy before making a correction.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF A B737-200 DSNDED BELOW ASSIGNED DEP ALT WHEN RESPONDING TO ANOTHER ACFT'S CLRNC, WHICH INCLUDED A FREQ AND ALT CHANGE.

Narrative: ON THE LAST FLT, OF THE LAST DAY OF FIVE AND WHILE HANDLING THE RADIOS, I THOUGHT THAT I WAS DIRECTED TO FLY 280 DEGS TO INTERCEPT THE SPARTA VOR DEP RADIAL. THEN I RESPONDED TO A FREQ CHANGE THAT WAS GIVEN TO ANOTHER ACFT. SUDDENLY I REALIZED MY MISTAKE AND TOLD MY COPLT THAT I BELIEVED THAT I HAD ACCEPTED AN ALT CLRNC THAT BELONGED TO ANOTHER FLT, AS WELL AS AN INCORRECT FREQ CHANGE. AS WE RETURNED TO THE CORRECT FREQ, I BEGAN A DSCNT BACK TOWARD 15000 FT. THE PREVIOUS CTLR ADVISED THAT WE HAD THE CLRNC TO 17000 FT AND HE RECLRED US AGAIN. AS BEST THAT I CAN RECALL, MY FIRST MISTAKE WAS THE ACCEPTANCE OF ANOTHER FLT'S FREQ CHANGE. MY SECOND ERROR WAS THE INITIATION OF A DSCNT BACK TOWARD 15000 FT WITHOUT ADEQUATE CREW RESOURCE MGMNT. I SHOULD HAVE VERIFIED MY CLRNC ACCURACY BEFORE MAKING A CORRECTION.

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.