Narrative:

On dec/fri/98, at approximately XA08 local (ZA08Z) en route from teterboro (teb), we were descending on the blewe 1 arrival for austin (aus). Sometime previously we had been cleared direct to blewe intersection to join the arrival. As we approached blewe, approximately 5 NM to the north of blewe, we were instructed to cross sewzy intersection at 10000 ft. The clearance to cross sewzy intersection at 10000 ft was read back to ATC and ATC acknowledged. As we passed blewe intersection we asked for a deviation to the east to avoid thunderstorms, we were beginning to encounter moderated turbulence. Permission to deviate to the east was granted with the instruction to proceed direct to sewzy when able. We acknowledged. At XA15 local (ZA15Z) ATC requested to confirm our altitude, we acknowledged 11000 ft and descending to our assigned altitude of 10000 ft. ATC remarked that our assigned altitude was 13000 ft and that we maintain 11000 ft. We maintained the altitude of 11000 ft and then were given a new heading, altitude and frequency change. The flight ended without any further problems. Upon landing and our passenger moving on their way, I phoned, mr X, the supervisor on duty. We spoke for several mins on the misunderstanding, he explained that there were no conflicts with other aircraft. The problem was that since we were below 13000 ft we were now in another approach controller's airspace. Mr X said that there were never any intentions of requesting any paperwork be generated. I thanked him for his time and made a few mental notes on what I would do in the future. I feel that several items led up to the altitude misunderstanding. First, my new first officer was unable to receive the aus ATIS from the time the top of descent was started. He was monitoring both ATIS and approach frequencys, even though the ATIS frequency was silent. I have told him and others in the past, that if they are unable to get the ATIS when within 100 mi of the airport, to ask the center or approach controller for that information. Secondly, we only carry one set of commercial charts. Once the PF has briefed the arrival and approach he gives the charts to the PNF so that he can back the PF with all the appropriate radials and altitudes, this procedure keeps the PNF in the 'loop.' with only one set of charts, the opportunities to make mistakes are obvious. Thirdly, the deviation for WX and the manipulation of the radar was added to the mix. When I am the PNF, in possession of the charts, I always xchk assigned crossing altitudes with the printed altitudes on the charts and query ATC if there is a question. This eliminates any mistakes or assumptions. I must stress to the others that I fly with the importance of this procedure. I take full responsibility for what I allowed to develop.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LJ35 CREW DSNDED BELOW THE STAR PUBLISHED ALT.

Narrative: ON DEC/FRI/98, AT APPROX XA08 LCL (ZA08Z) ENRTE FROM TETERBORO (TEB), WE WERE DSNDING ON THE BLEWE 1 ARR FOR AUSTIN (AUS). SOMETIME PREVIOUSLY WE HAD BEEN CLRED DIRECT TO BLEWE INTXN TO JOIN THE ARR. AS WE APCHED BLEWE, APPROX 5 NM TO THE N OF BLEWE, WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO CROSS SEWZY INTXN AT 10000 FT. THE CLRNC TO CROSS SEWZY INTXN AT 10000 FT WAS READ BACK TO ATC AND ATC ACKNOWLEDGED. AS WE PASSED BLEWE INTXN WE ASKED FOR A DEV TO THE E TO AVOID TSTMS, WE WERE BEGINNING TO ENCOUNTER MODERATED TURB. PERMISSION TO DEVIATE TO THE E WAS GRANTED WITH THE INSTRUCTION TO PROCEED DIRECT TO SEWZY WHEN ABLE. WE ACKNOWLEDGED. AT XA15 LCL (ZA15Z) ATC REQUESTED TO CONFIRM OUR ALT, WE ACKNOWLEDGED 11000 FT AND DSNDING TO OUR ASSIGNED ALT OF 10000 FT. ATC REMARKED THAT OUR ASSIGNED ALT WAS 13000 FT AND THAT WE MAINTAIN 11000 FT. WE MAINTAINED THE ALT OF 11000 FT AND THEN WERE GIVEN A NEW HEADING, ALT AND FREQ CHANGE. THE FLT ENDED WITHOUT ANY FURTHER PROBS. UPON LNDG AND OUR PAX MOVING ON THEIR WAY, I PHONED, MR X, THE SUPVR ON DUTY. WE SPOKE FOR SEVERAL MINS ON THE MISUNDERSTANDING, HE EXPLAINED THAT THERE WERE NO CONFLICTS WITH OTHER ACFT. THE PROB WAS THAT SINCE WE WERE BELOW 13000 FT WE WERE NOW IN ANOTHER APCH CTLR'S AIRSPACE. MR X SAID THAT THERE WERE NEVER ANY INTENTIONS OF REQUESTING ANY PAPERWORK BE GENERATED. I THANKED HIM FOR HIS TIME AND MADE A FEW MENTAL NOTES ON WHAT I WOULD DO IN THE FUTURE. I FEEL THAT SEVERAL ITEMS LED UP TO THE ALT MISUNDERSTANDING. FIRST, MY NEW FO WAS UNABLE TO RECEIVE THE AUS ATIS FROM THE TIME THE TOP OF DSCNT WAS STARTED. HE WAS MONITORING BOTH ATIS AND APCH FREQS, EVEN THOUGH THE ATIS FREQ WAS SILENT. I HAVE TOLD HIM AND OTHERS IN THE PAST, THAT IF THEY ARE UNABLE TO GET THE ATIS WHEN WITHIN 100 MI OF THE ARPT, TO ASK THE CTR OR APCH CTLR FOR THAT INFO. SECONDLY, WE ONLY CARRY ONE SET OF COMMERCIAL CHARTS. ONCE THE PF HAS BRIEFED THE ARR AND APCH HE GIVES THE CHARTS TO THE PNF SO THAT HE CAN BACK THE PF WITH ALL THE APPROPRIATE RADIALS AND ALTS, THIS PROC KEEPS THE PNF IN THE 'LOOP.' WITH ONLY ONE SET OF CHARTS, THE OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE MISTAKES ARE OBVIOUS. THIRDLY, THE DEV FOR WX AND THE MANIPULATION OF THE RADAR WAS ADDED TO THE MIX. WHEN I AM THE PNF, IN POSSESSION OF THE CHARTS, I ALWAYS XCHK ASSIGNED XING ALTS WITH THE PRINTED ALTS ON THE CHARTS AND QUERY ATC IF THERE IS A QUESTION. THIS ELIMINATES ANY MISTAKES OR ASSUMPTIONS. I MUST STRESS TO THE OTHERS THAT I FLY WITH THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PROC. I TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT I ALLOWED TO DEVELOP.

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.