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A B737 first officer descends to 10000 ft from 11000 ft while captain is busy with company regarding the passenger emergency being handled. Approach controller sends them back to 11000 ft with a '...don't worry' response.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 393493 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199802 |
| Day | Sun |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : ard |
| State Reference | PA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 11000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : n90 |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B737-300 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | Other Other |
| Flight Phase | cruise other descent other |
| Route In Use | arrival other arrival star : star |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : cfi pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 17000 flight time type : 10000 |
| ASRS Report | 393493 |
| 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 controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance other other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
During descent into lga, a passenger had become ill. An emergency was declared and direct lga was requested. Controller cleared us to 11000 ft and direct to lga. While I was off ATC frequency, contacting the company regarding the medical problem, first officer was cleared to 10000 ft. Shortly after I returned to ATC frequency, controller asked our altitude. I replied level at 10000 ft. Controller instructed us to climb to 11000 ft, which we did. When I questioned if we were at the wrong altitude, ATC replied, 'no, don't worry.' no TCASII TA, no conflict observed. Workload was high, but I don't believe we were at fault.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A B737 FO DSNDS TO 10000 FT FROM 11000 FT WHILE CAPT IS BUSY WITH COMPANY REGARDING THE PAX EMER BEING HANDLED. APCH CTLR SENDS THEM BACK TO 11000 FT WITH A '...DON'T WORRY' RESPONSE.
Narrative: DURING DSCNT INTO LGA, A PAX HAD BECOME ILL. AN EMER WAS DECLARED AND DIRECT LGA WAS REQUESTED. CTLR CLRED US TO 11000 FT AND DIRECT TO LGA. WHILE I WAS OFF ATC FREQ, CONTACTING THE COMPANY REGARDING THE MEDICAL PROB, FO WAS CLRED TO 10000 FT. SHORTLY AFTER I RETURNED TO ATC FREQ, CTLR ASKED OUR ALT. I REPLIED LEVEL AT 10000 FT. CTLR INSTRUCTED US TO CLB TO 11000 FT, WHICH WE DID. WHEN I QUESTIONED IF WE WERE AT THE WRONG ALT, ATC REPLIED, 'NO, DON'T WORRY.' NO TCASII TA, NO CONFLICT OBSERVED. WORKLOAD WAS HIGH, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE WE WERE AT FAULT.
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.