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Flight crew of corp small transport read back clearance to descent to 11000'. Starting descent they again stated they were leaving cruise altitude for 11000'. On descent center questioned their altitude and clearance, stating they thought the flight had been cleared only to 15000', but no problem, descend on to 9000'.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 111466 |
| Time | |
| Date | 198905 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : mol |
| State Reference | VA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 11000 msl bound upper : 15000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdc tower : ind |
| Operator | general aviation : corporate |
| Make Model Name | Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng |
| Flight Phase | descent other |
| Route In Use | enroute airway : j48 |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 155 flight time total : 3600 flight time type : 1450 |
| ASRS Report | 111466 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : overshoot other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Operational Deviation |
Narrative:
90 DME southwest of mol VOR at FL210 ATC cleared us to cross 15 DME southwest of mol at 11000'. I read back 'one-one-thousand 15 out (aircraft identify).' the copilot was flying left seat as it was a dead head leg. As I read back the clearance he dialed 11000' in the altitude select. When we began our descent at 60 DME I reported to center '(aircraft identify) leaving two-one-zero for one-one-thousand.' passing 14000' center said, '(aircraft identify) no problem, but say your altitude.' I responded with 'thirteen thousand eight hundred.' he then said he thought we were assigned 15000, 'but no problem, descend to niner thousand.' while only the tapes can say for sure what altitude we were initially told to descend to, I do know I read back 'one-one-thousand' 2 different times. Both pilots and controllers need to realize they are human and make errors. No matter who was at fault, this situation could have been fatal had there been conflicting traffic in IMC. Although the controller said, 'no problem,' my pilot certificate is worth the time it takes to write this report. I only hope a future error will not cost me my life.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: FLT CREW OF CORP SMT READ BACK CLRNC TO DESCENT TO 11000'. STARTING DESCENT THEY AGAIN STATED THEY WERE LEAVING CRUISE ALT FOR 11000'. ON DESCENT CENTER QUESTIONED THEIR ALT AND CLRNC, STATING THEY THOUGHT THE FLT HAD BEEN CLEARED ONLY TO 15000', BUT NO PROBLEM, DESCEND ON TO 9000'.
Narrative: 90 DME SW OF MOL VOR AT FL210 ATC CLRED US TO CROSS 15 DME SW OF MOL AT 11000'. I READ BACK 'ONE-ONE-THOUSAND 15 OUT (ACFT IDENT).' THE COPLT WAS FLYING LEFT SEAT AS IT WAS A DEAD HEAD LEG. AS I READ BACK THE CLRNC HE DIALED 11000' IN THE ALT SELECT. WHEN WE BEGAN OUR DSCNT AT 60 DME I RPTED TO CENTER '(ACFT IDENT) LEAVING TWO-ONE-ZERO FOR ONE-ONE-THOUSAND.' PASSING 14000' CENTER SAID, '(ACFT IDENT) NO PROB, BUT SAY YOUR ALT.' I RESPONDED WITH 'THIRTEEN THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED.' HE THEN SAID HE THOUGHT WE WERE ASSIGNED 15000, 'BUT NO PROB, DSND TO NINER THOUSAND.' WHILE ONLY THE TAPES CAN SAY FOR SURE WHAT ALT WE WERE INITIALLY TOLD TO DSND TO, I DO KNOW I READ BACK 'ONE-ONE-THOUSAND' 2 DIFFERENT TIMES. BOTH PLTS AND CTLRS NEED TO REALIZE THEY ARE HUMAN AND MAKE ERRORS. NO MATTER WHO WAS AT FAULT, THIS SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL HAD THERE BEEN CONFLICTING TFC IN IMC. ALTHOUGH THE CTLR SAID, 'NO PROB,' MY PLT CERTIFICATE IS WORTH THE TIME IT TAKES TO WRITE THIS RPT. I ONLY HOPE A FUTURE ERROR WILL NOT COST ME MY LIFE.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.