An altitude excursion on the skebr RNAV 1 arrival to las, nv.

Attributes
ACN	561344
Time
Date	200209
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : l30.tracon
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12400 msl bound upper : 13000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	Turbulence
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : l30.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-700
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival star : skbr1
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 9800 flight time type : 900
ASRS Report	561344
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllerb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Established on the skebr 1 arrival at 13000 ft, I went off frequency to obtain the most current las ATIS. Upon my return to communication #1, I stated that I was 'back on communication #1.' captain requested me to set 12000 ft in the altitude alerter because the next fix required 12000 ft crossing restr. We started our descent to 12000 ft. At about 12400 ft, ATC asked if 'he' had cleared us to 12000 ft or did 'we' do it on our own. I stated that we were cleared the skebr 1 and that we were complying with the text restrs. ATC indicated that the last altitude clearance was to maintain 13000 ft. I usually listen to both radios when obtaining ATIS, but the chatter on communication #1 prevented me from hearing the las vegas ATIS clearly. If I had been monitoring the #1 communication, I may have been able to support the captain on the altitude clearance and prevented this altitude deviation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ALT EXCURSION ON THE SKEBR RNAV 1 ARR TO LAS, NV.

Narrative: ESTABLISHED ON THE SKEBR 1 ARR AT 13000 FT, I WENT OFF FREQ TO OBTAIN THE MOST CURRENT LAS ATIS. UPON MY RETURN TO COM #1, I STATED THAT I WAS 'BACK ON COM #1.' CAPT REQUESTED ME TO SET 12000 FT IN THE ALT ALERTER BECAUSE THE NEXT FIX REQUIRED 12000 FT XING RESTR. WE STARTED OUR DSCNT TO 12000 FT. AT ABOUT 12400 FT, ATC ASKED IF 'HE' HAD CLRED US TO 12000 FT OR DID 'WE' DO IT ON OUR OWN. I STATED THAT WE WERE CLRED THE SKEBR 1 AND THAT WE WERE COMPLYING WITH THE TEXT RESTRS. ATC INDICATED THAT THE LAST ALT CLRNC WAS TO MAINTAIN 13000 FT. I USUALLY LISTEN TO BOTH RADIOS WHEN OBTAINING ATIS, BUT THE CHATTER ON COM #1 PREVENTED ME FROM HEARING THE LAS VEGAS ATIS CLRLY. IF I HAD BEEN MONITORING THE #1 COM, I MAY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SUPPORT THE CAPT ON THE ALT CLRNC AND PREVENTED THIS ALTDEV.

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.