<< >> NASA ASRS Report 505130, March 2001

A B727 cargo flight descends past the altitude that the approach controller had expected, but was in accord with the clearance issued by ZID controller at 28 mi southwest of ind, in.

Attributes
ACN	505130
Time
Date	200103
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ind.airport
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.artcc tracon : ind.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 5540 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	505130
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 16500
ASRS Report	505131
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Airspace Structure Environmental Factor
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation

Narrative:

Flight was at 10000 ft and was cleared to 5000 ft by center. During descent, flight was switched to approach control. At approximately 6200 ft MEL, approach control queried crew as to our altitude. I told them we were descending to 5000 ft MSL. Approach control told us they normally expect 7000 ft MSL. I told them that center had told us to descend to 5000 ft MSL. Approach control then told us that 5000 ft MSL was no problem and to maintain 5000 ft MSL. Further descent, landing, and taxi to gate normal.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B727 CARGO FLT DSNDS PAST THE ALT THAT THE APCH CTLR HAD EXPECTED, BUT WAS IN ACCORD WITH THE CLRNC ISSUED BY ZID CTLR AT 28 MI SW OF IND, IN.

Narrative: FLT WAS AT 10000 FT AND WAS CLRED TO 5000 FT BY CTR. DURING DSCNT, FLT WAS SWITCHED TO APCH CTL. AT APPROX 6200 FT MEL, APCH CTL QUERIED CREW AS TO OUR ALT. I TOLD THEM WE WERE DSNDING TO 5000 FT MSL. APCH CTL TOLD US THEY NORMALLY EXPECT 7000 FT MSL. I TOLD THEM THAT CTR HAD TOLD US TO DSND TO 5000 FT MSL. APCH CTL THEN TOLD US THAT 5000 FT MSL WAS NO PROB AND TO MAINTAIN 5000 FT MSL. FURTHER DSCNT, LNDG, AND TAXI TO GATE NORMAL.

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.