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A pilot of an small aircraft climbs to an assigned altitude then decides to climb higher to escape turbulence and avoid thunderstorms. The departure controller 'reprimands' the pilot for an unauthorized altitude change.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 371270 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199706 |
| Day | Tue |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : dsm |
| State Reference | IA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 4500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | Mixed |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : dsm |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | climbout : intermediate altitude |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 20190 flight time type : 15000 |
| ASRS Report | 371270 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : departure |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : far non adherence : clearance |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | other other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
I had requested 3000 ft from clearance delivery direct 1RK (kirksville VOR) and was issued same after takeoff. Radar contact was established and we maintained exactly 3000 ft. 17 mi, sse departure said 'resume normal navigation.' I should have immediately requested a frequency change and radar service terminated because we were out of departure's airspace jurisdiction. With buildups south and the afternoon turbulence, I started a climb to higher altitude only to get a reprimand for an altitude change. Departure said 'in the future tell me if you want an altitude change.' yes, in the future I will eliminate someone trying to fly the plane from the ground as soon as possible especially when the comfort of the passenger is at stake. We doubt that 'free flight' will ever take place. In over 50 yrs in aviation it has only gotten worse, not better.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A PLT OF AN SMA CLBS TO AN ASSIGNED ALT THEN DECIDES TO CLB HIGHER TO ESCAPE TURB AND AVOID TSTMS. THE DEP CTLR 'REPRIMANDS' THE PLT FOR AN UNAUTH ALT CHANGE.
Narrative: I HAD REQUESTED 3000 FT FROM CLRNC DELIVERY DIRECT 1RK (KIRKSVILLE VOR) AND WAS ISSUED SAME AFTER TKOF. RADAR CONTACT WAS ESTABLISHED AND WE MAINTAINED EXACTLY 3000 FT. 17 MI, SSE DEP SAID 'RESUME NORMAL NAV.' I SHOULD HAVE IMMEDIATELY REQUESTED A FREQ CHANGE AND RADAR SVC TERMINATED BECAUSE WE WERE OUT OF DEP'S AIRSPACE JURISDICTION. WITH BUILDUPS S AND THE AFTERNOON TURB, I STARTED A CLB TO HIGHER ALT ONLY TO GET A REPRIMAND FOR AN ALT CHANGE. DEP SAID 'IN THE FUTURE TELL ME IF YOU WANT AN ALT CHANGE.' YES, IN THE FUTURE I WILL ELIMINATE SOMEONE TRYING TO FLY THE PLANE FROM THE GND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ESPECIALLY WHEN THE COMFORT OF THE PAX IS AT STAKE. WE DOUBT THAT 'FREE FLT' WILL EVER TAKE PLACE. IN OVER 50 YRS IN AVIATION IT HAS ONLY GOTTEN WORSE, NOT BETTER.
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.