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Flight crew of medium large transport is given descent to FL210 which is repeated twice by flight crew and controller. As they descend they are informed that the clearance was to FL310 and they should level at FL280.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 385160 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199711 |
| Day | Tue |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : cvg |
| State Reference | OH |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 29800 msl bound upper : 31000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zme |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Commercial Fixed Wing |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | Other Other |
| Flight Phase | cruise other descent other |
| Route In Use | enroute : on vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 196 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 2700 |
| ASRS Report | 385160 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Ambiguous |
| Air Traffic Incident | other |
Narrative:
We were on a vector for traffic and level at FL330. Our flight plan had us going to cct-abb-MOSEY3-cvg. The controller said to descend to FL210 and at FL210, proceed direct pxv. We repeated back FL210 and questioned pxv. The controller then stated, descend to FL210 and at FL210 proceed direct cct. We acknowledged both the altitude and corrected fix. We started down at 1000 FPM. I commented that it was awful low this far out (270 NM from cvg) but the captain reminded me that around cvg they like to start you down early. Monitoring TCASII on a 40 NM scale, no other aircraft were present. At FL298, the controller said you were cleared to FL210 but now to stop at FL280. Puzzled, we responded, 'understand cleared to FL210 but stop at FL280.' the controller then responded, no, you were cleared to FL310 and now go to FL280. It was the first time we heard FL310. Obviously, we questioned the altitude but having repeated twice and not corrected, it must be right.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: FLC OF MLG IS GIVEN DSCNT TO FL210 WHICH IS REPEATED TWICE BY FLC AND CTLR. AS THEY DSND THEY ARE INFORMED THAT THE CLRNC WAS TO FL310 AND THEY SHOULD LEVEL AT FL280.
Narrative: WE WERE ON A VECTOR FOR TFC AND LEVEL AT FL330. OUR FLT PLAN HAD US GOING TO CCT-ABB-MOSEY3-CVG. THE CTLR SAID TO DSND TO FL210 AND AT FL210, PROCEED DIRECT PXV. WE REPEATED BACK FL210 AND QUESTIONED PXV. THE CTLR THEN STATED, DSND TO FL210 AND AT FL210 PROCEED DIRECT CCT. WE ACKNOWLEDGED BOTH THE ALT AND CORRECTED FIX. WE STARTED DOWN AT 1000 FPM. I COMMENTED THAT IT WAS AWFUL LOW THIS FAR OUT (270 NM FROM CVG) BUT THE CAPT REMINDED ME THAT AROUND CVG THEY LIKE TO START YOU DOWN EARLY. MONITORING TCASII ON A 40 NM SCALE, NO OTHER ACFT WERE PRESENT. AT FL298, THE CTLR SAID YOU WERE CLRED TO FL210 BUT NOW TO STOP AT FL280. PUZZLED, WE RESPONDED, 'UNDERSTAND CLRED TO FL210 BUT STOP AT FL280.' THE CTLR THEN RESPONDED, NO, YOU WERE CLRED TO FL310 AND NOW GO TO FL280. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME WE HEARD FL310. OBVIOUSLY, WE QUESTIONED THE ALT BUT HAVING REPEATED TWICE AND NOT CORRECTED, IT MUST BE RIGHT.
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.