<< >> NASA ASRS Report 443690, July 1999

An air carrier flight crew flying a B757-200 misunderstands descent clearance near jax resulting in an altitude overshoot.

Attributes
ACN	443690
Time
Date	199907
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : flo.vortac
State Reference	SC
Altitude	msl single value : 28000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	443690
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Approximately 100 mi southwest of fld VOR, ATC issued a clearance to cross 40 mi southwest of fld VOR at FL240. About 1-2 mins after ZJX said 'start down now to FL290.' passing FL280, ZJX said that we were supposed to maintain FL290, but to now expedite to FL270. All of us in the cockpit (including a jump seater) had understood the clearance as 'start down now through FL290.' shortly thereafter we were given a frequency change. Asked the controller if we needed to talk to her about a conflict, and she said no.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR FLC FLYING A B757-200 MISUNDERSTANDS DSCNT CLRNC NEAR JAX RESULTING IN AN ALT OVERSHOOT.

Narrative: APPROX 100 MI SW OF FLD VOR, ATC ISSUED A CLRNC TO CROSS 40 MI SW OF FLD VOR AT FL240. ABOUT 1-2 MINS AFTER ZJX SAID 'START DOWN NOW TO FL290.' PASSING FL280, ZJX SAID THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO MAINTAIN FL290, BUT TO NOW EXPEDITE TO FL270. ALL OF US IN THE COCKPIT (INCLUDING A JUMP SEATER) HAD UNDERSTOOD THE CLRNC AS 'START DOWN NOW THROUGH FL290.' SHORTLY THEREAFTER WE WERE GIVEN A FREQ CHANGE. ASKED THE CTLR IF WE NEEDED TO TALK TO HER ABOUT A CONFLICT, AND SHE SAID NO.

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.