<< >> NASA ASRS Report 410540, August 1998

An instructor pilot report on not complying with the altitude heading rule while flying west from cll to sat. The aircraft was at 5500 ft and under ARTCC radar observation.

Attributes
ACN	410540
Time
Date	199808
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : san
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5500 msl bound upper : 5500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zhu
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 1170 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	410540
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : student
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I reviewed my student's preflight planning and determined that his preparation was good. I did not recognize, however, that he had planned to fly at an incorrect VFR cruising altitude. As a result, the entire cruise portion of a flight from cll to sat was conducted at 5500 ft MSL. This was plain oversight on my behalf. In fact, during our discussion during preflight planning on what altitude to fly back (at night), we discovered our error. What could have helped me realize my error? Perhaps a prompting from ATC. During the flight, I was also teaching my student how to secure VFR flight following from an ARTCC. As a result, we were in contact with center throughout the flight. I realize that is not their function, but I do know they are familiar with our cruising altitudes (I once requested the wrong altitude and was corrected by ATC).

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN INSTRUCTOR PLT RPT ON NOT COMPLYING WITH THE ALT HDG RULE WHILE FLYING W FROM CLL TO SAT. THE ACFT WAS AT 5500 FT AND UNDER ARTCC RADAR OBSERVATION.

Narrative: I REVIEWED MY STUDENT'S PREFLT PLANNING AND DETERMINED THAT HIS PREPARATION WAS GOOD. I DID NOT RECOGNIZE, HOWEVER, THAT HE HAD PLANNED TO FLY AT AN INCORRECT VFR CRUISING ALT. AS A RESULT, THE ENTIRE CRUISE PORTION OF A FLT FROM CLL TO SAT WAS CONDUCTED AT 5500 FT MSL. THIS WAS PLAIN OVERSIGHT ON MY BEHALF. IN FACT, DURING OUR DISCUSSION DURING PREFLT PLANNING ON WHAT ALT TO FLY BACK (AT NIGHT), WE DISCOVERED OUR ERROR. WHAT COULD HAVE HELPED ME REALIZE MY ERROR? PERHAPS A PROMPTING FROM ATC. DURING THE FLT, I WAS ALSO TEACHING MY STUDENT HOW TO SECURE VFR FLT FOLLOWING FROM AN ARTCC. AS A RESULT, WE WERE IN CONTACT WITH CTR THROUGHOUT THE FLT. I REALIZE THAT IS NOT THEIR FUNCTION, BUT I DO KNOW THEY ARE FAMILIAR WITH OUR CRUISING ALTS (I ONCE REQUESTED THE WRONG ALT AND WAS CORRECTED BY ATC).

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.