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A B737 crew were cleared by ATC to cross a fix at 14000 ft, implying the descent be initiated. The crew interpreted the clearance as being pilot's discretion.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 539261 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200202 |
| Day | Tue |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | intersection : dugle |
| State Reference | CA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 14000 msl bound upper : 22000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zoa.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | other |
| Flight Phase | descent : intermediate altitude |
| Route In Use | arrival star : madwin 4 |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 2800 |
| ASRS Report | 539261 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | non adherence : clearance |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : returned to original clearance |
| Consequence | faa : reviewed incident with flight crew |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
Narrative:
We were at FL220 when ZOA told us to cross dugle at 14000 ft. About 2 mins after this clearance, center asked us our descent rate. We had not started descending yet. Apparently, his original instructions were to descend now and cross dugle at 14000 ft. We didn't hear the 'descend now' part of the clearance and didn't include it in our readback. There was a lack of communication present since we didn't hear the whole initial clearance and since the controller didn't correct us on the readback. I read back to 'cross dugle at 14000 ft.' when I read back 'descend now' clrncs, I say 'descend now, cross the fix at whatever altitude.' ATC should correct pilots on incorrect readbacks!
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A B737 CREW WERE CLRED BY ATC TO CROSS A FIX AT 14000 FT, IMPLYING THE DSCNT BE INITIATED. THE CREW INTERPED THE CLRNC AS BEING PLT'S DISCRETION.
Narrative: WE WERE AT FL220 WHEN ZOA TOLD US TO CROSS DUGLE AT 14000 FT. ABOUT 2 MINS AFTER THIS CLRNC, CTR ASKED US OUR DSCNT RATE. WE HAD NOT STARTED DSNDING YET. APPARENTLY, HIS ORIGINAL INSTRUCTIONS WERE TO DSND NOW AND CROSS DUGLE AT 14000 FT. WE DIDN'T HEAR THE 'DSND NOW' PART OF THE CLRNC AND DIDN'T INCLUDE IT IN OUR READBACK. THERE WAS A LACK OF COM PRESENT SINCE WE DIDN'T HEAR THE WHOLE INITIAL CLRNC AND SINCE THE CTLR DIDN'T CORRECT US ON THE READBACK. I READ BACK TO 'CROSS DUGLE AT 14000 FT.' WHEN I READ BACK 'DSND NOW' CLRNCS, I SAY 'DSND NOW, CROSS THE FIX AT WHATEVER ALT.' ATC SHOULD CORRECT PLTS ON INCORRECT READBACKS!
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.