<< >> NASA ASRS Report 367500, May 1997

EMB120 aircraft with clearance to descend. Flight crew delayed descent while looking for gliders which were notamed on ATIS. Approach controller requested descent.

Attributes
ACN	367500
Time
Date	199705
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : aml airport : iad
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : iad
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Brasilia EMB-120 All Series
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 1700 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	367500
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	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Operating flight from ewr to iad. We were assigned to descend to 3000 ft from 5000 ft. 3000 ft was selected in altitude selector. However, the captain (PF) and myself were looking outside for gliders, as notamed on the ATIS, and other traffic appearing on TCASII. A few mins later, dulles approach questioned us if we were going to 3000 ft. At that point we descended to 3000 ft as previously assigned.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EMB120 ACFT WITH CLRNC TO DSND. FLC DELAYED DSCNT WHILE LOOKING FOR GLIDERS WHICH WERE NOTAMED ON ATIS. APCH CTLR REQUESTED DSCNT.

Narrative: OPERATING FLT FROM EWR TO IAD. WE WERE ASSIGNED TO DSND TO 3000 FT FROM 5000 FT. 3000 FT WAS SELECTED IN ALT SELECTOR. HOWEVER, THE CAPT (PF) AND MYSELF WERE LOOKING OUTSIDE FOR GLIDERS, AS NOTAMED ON THE ATIS, AND OTHER TFC APPEARING ON TCASII. A FEW MINS LATER, DULLES APCH QUESTIONED US IF WE WERE GOING TO 3000 FT. AT THAT POINT WE DSNDED TO 3000 FT AS PREVIOUSLY ASSIGNED.

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.