<< >> NASA ASRS Report 423710, December 1998

Flight crew of an MD88 descended below arrival altitude due to misunderstanding of the altitude assignment.

Attributes
ACN	423710
Time
Date	199812
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cvg
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star enroute airway : cvg
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 10900 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	423710
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Cleared by approach control to 7000 ft from 11000 ft. Copilot heard and acknowledged, I heard and concurred, we both acknowledged 7000 ft set in altitude window and descended to 7000 ft. After about 5 mins at 7000 ft approach came on and said we had not been cleared to descend and that we should climb to 9000 ft. We began climb and then we were told to remain at 7000 ft which we did. No conflicts occurred and flight continued normally. We were both sure of our clearance to 7000 ft and the only thing we could do is check the tapes and the controller wanted to drop the incident.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF AN MD88 DSNDED BELOW ARR ALT DUE TO MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE ALT ASSIGNMENT.

Narrative: CLRED BY APCH CTL TO 7000 FT FROM 11000 FT. COPLT HEARD AND ACKNOWLEDGED, I HEARD AND CONCURRED, WE BOTH ACKNOWLEDGED 7000 FT SET IN ALT WINDOW AND DSNDED TO 7000 FT. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINS AT 7000 FT APCH CAME ON AND SAID WE HAD NOT BEEN CLRED TO DSND AND THAT WE SHOULD CLB TO 9000 FT. WE BEGAN CLB AND THEN WE WERE TOLD TO REMAIN AT 7000 FT WHICH WE DID. NO CONFLICTS OCCURRED AND FLT CONTINUED NORMALLY. WE WERE BOTH SURE OF OUR CLRNC TO 7000 FT AND THE ONLY THING WE COULD DO IS CHECK THE TAPES AND THE CTLR WANTED TO DROP THE INCIDENT.

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.