<< >> NASA ASRS Report 457194, December 1999

Reporter claims the ARTCC controller knew the pilot's readback was incorrect on a descent altitude but did not correct the pilot until an undershoot was evident.

Attributes
ACN	457194
Time
Date	199912
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : weldo
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.artcc
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude descent : vacating altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 6900 flight time type : 1900
ASRS Report	457194
Person 2
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

ATC cleared us to cross 5 NM north of the weldo intersection at 10000 ft. I thought the controller said to cross at 11000 ft and read back 11000 ft. The controller waited until we were 5 NM north of weldo at 11000 ft to advise us of our undershoot of our altitude. While he advised us of our error, the controller stated that our readback was 11000 ft. I realize that the controller is no longer responsible for a pilot's readback of a clearance, but in the interest of safety, the controller should correct the error before the clearance limit is exceeded if he knows the clearance was read back incorrectly (which he did know that it was read back incorrectly).

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR CLAIMS THE ARTCC CTLR KNEW THE PLT'S READBACK WAS INCORRECT ON A DSCNT ALT BUT DID NOT CORRECT THE PLT UNTIL AN UNDERSHOOT WAS EVIDENT.

Narrative: ATC CLRED US TO CROSS 5 NM N OF THE WELDO INTXN AT 10000 FT. I THOUGHT THE CTLR SAID TO CROSS AT 11000 FT AND READ BACK 11000 FT. THE CTLR WAITED UNTIL WE WERE 5 NM N OF WELDO AT 11000 FT TO ADVISE US OF OUR UNDERSHOOT OF OUR ALT. WHILE HE ADVISED US OF OUR ERROR, THE CTLR STATED THAT OUR READBACK WAS 11000 FT. I REALIZE THAT THE CTLR IS NO LONGER RESPONSIBLE FOR A PLT'S READBACK OF A CLRNC, BUT IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY, THE CTLR SHOULD CORRECT THE ERROR BEFORE THE CLRNC LIMIT IS EXCEEDED IF HE KNOWS THE CLRNC WAS READ BACK INCORRECTLY (WHICH HE DID KNOW THAT IT WAS READ BACK INCORRECTLY).

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.