<< >> NASA ASRS Report 595747, October 2003

Altitude excursion when a C550 flight crew starts a descent to FL240 after replying to a clearance meant for company flight, a C650, ahead of their flight while on frequency with ZTL.

Attributes
ACN	595747
Time
Date	200310
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ztl.artcc
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 24000 msl bound upper : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Citation II S2/Bravo
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level cruise : enroute altitude change descent : vacating altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Citation III, VI, VII
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	595747
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : returned to assigned altitude flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Environmental Factor Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Citation 550 departed mob approximately 3 mins behind another company aircraft, a C650. My C550 climbed to FL290 after several leveloffs along the way. We were generally on the same frequency as the lead aircraft. Approximately 30 mins into the flight, ZTL cleared the C650 to descend to FL240. Unfortunately due to both crew members on the C550 having flown the C650 recently, the sic in my aircraft responded to this clearance verbally and I, the PIC, began a descent to FL240. When I had descended approximately 600 ft, ZTL requested our altitude. The sic responded 'in descent to FL240, crossing FL284.' atlanta 'C550 center said that clearance was for C650, maintain FL290,' at which time we returned to FL290. The flight was completed with no further problems. Both crew members fly the C650 regularly. Lack of attention led us both to respond to the wrong clearance.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT EXCURSION WHEN A C550 FLT CREW STARTS A DSCNT TO FL240 AFTER REPLYING TO A CLRNC MEANT FOR COMPANY FLT, A C650, AHEAD OF THEIR FLT WHILE ON FREQ WITH ZTL.

Narrative: CITATION 550 DEPARTED MOB APPROX 3 MINS BEHIND ANOTHER COMPANY ACFT, A C650. MY C550 CLBED TO FL290 AFTER SEVERAL LEVELOFFS ALONG THE WAY. WE WERE GENERALLY ON THE SAME FREQ AS THE LEAD ACFT. APPROX 30 MINS INTO THE FLT, ZTL CLRED THE C650 TO DSND TO FL240. UNFORTUNATELY DUE TO BOTH CREW MEMBERS ON THE C550 HAVING FLOWN THE C650 RECENTLY, THE SIC IN MY ACFT RESPONDED TO THIS CLRNC VERBALLY AND I, THE PIC, BEGAN A DSCNT TO FL240. WHEN I HAD DSNDED APPROX 600 FT, ZTL REQUESTED OUR ALT. THE SIC RESPONDED 'IN DSCNT TO FL240, XING FL284.' ATLANTA 'C550 CTR SAID THAT CLRNC WAS FOR C650, MAINTAIN FL290,' AT WHICH TIME WE RETURNED TO FL290. THE FLT WAS COMPLETED WITH NO FURTHER PROBS. BOTH CREW MEMBERS FLY THE C650 REGULARLY. LACK OF ATTN LED US BOTH TO RESPOND TO THE WRONG CLRNC.

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.