<< >> NASA ASRS Report 623713, July 2004

Gii on radar vector from N90 departure control confused a heading assignment with an altitude clearance and climbed above assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	623713
Time
Date	200407
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : jfk.vor
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 14000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Gulfstream II
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 290
ASRS Report	623713
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were on radar vectors and level at 12000 ft. We received a frequency change. Upon checking in control said, something (first word blocked/unreadable to me) '230 higher in 5 mi.' captain was PNF and responded to the clearance. 'Climbing 230' I initiated the climb to FL230. At 14000 ft the controller asked our altitude and said we were to fly a heading of 230 degrees not climb. Captain said he read back climb to 230 and asked for an altitude clearance. This situation could have been avoided if I had challenged the clearance with the captain because I couldn't make out, the first part and the remark 'higher in 5 mi' didn't make sense. However, I relied upon him to hear the clearance correctly. Controller never stated if he would be written up or not.

Related reports:

• B737 taxiing for departure at iad is confused with route ass...
• Carj taxiing for departure at oma is confused with runway as...
• MD90 crew confused about their departure clearance assignmen...
• Rsw air carrier departure described confused SID/route assig...

	Enter your search terms Submit search form
	Web www.37000feet.com

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GII ON RADAR VECTOR FROM N90 DEP CTL CONFUSED A HDG ASSIGNMENT WITH AN ALT CLRNC AND CLBED ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: WE WERE ON RADAR VECTORS AND LEVEL AT 12000 FT. WE RECEIVED A FREQ CHANGE. UPON CHKING IN CTL SAID, SOMETHING (FIRST WORD BLOCKED/UNREADABLE TO ME) '230 HIGHER IN 5 MI.' CAPT WAS PNF AND RESPONDED TO THE CLRNC. 'CLBING 230' I INITIATED THE CLB TO FL230. AT 14000 FT THE CTLR ASKED OUR ALT AND SAID WE WERE TO FLY A HDG OF 230 DEGS NOT CLB. CAPT SAID HE READ BACK CLB TO 230 AND ASKED FOR AN ALT CLRNC. THIS SIT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF I HAD CHALLENGED THE CLRNC WITH THE CAPT BECAUSE I COULDN'T MAKE OUT, THE FIRST PART AND THE REMARK 'HIGHER IN 5 MI' DIDN'T MAKE SENSE. HOWEVER, I RELIED UPON HIM TO HEAR THE CLRNC CORRECTLY. CTLR NEVER STATED IF HE WOULD BE WRITTEN UP OR NOT.

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.