<< >> NASA ASRS Report 113800, June 1989

Air carrier descended to a different altitude than assigned and came in conflict with opposite direction traffic. No loss of separation occurred.

Attributes
ACN	113800
Time
Date	198906
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : abe
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 13000 msl bound upper : 18000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny artcc : zny
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	113800
Person 2
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : undershoot conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	vertical : 1000
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Given restriction to make 18,000' 5 NM west of abe VOR. This is what we read back to controller and subsequent controller on next radio frequency. They later said it was supposed to be 13,000' altitude. Conflicting traffic opposite heading at 18,000'. We saw him and continued descent to 13,000' and there was plenty of separation. Note: captain was flying and first officer made the radio call and set in altitude on altitude warning and capture of flight guidance. There was miscom either on our part or controller's part.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR DESCENDED TO A DIFFERENT ALT THAN ASSIGNED AND CAME IN CONFLICT WITH OPPOSITE DIRECTION TRAFFIC. NO LOSS OF SEPARATION OCCURRED.

Narrative: GIVEN RESTRICTION TO MAKE 18,000' 5 NM W OF ABE VOR. THIS IS WHAT WE READ BACK TO CTLR AND SUBSEQUENT CTLR ON NEXT RADIO FREQ. THEY LATER SAID IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE 13,000' ALT. CONFLICTING TFC OPPOSITE HDG AT 18,000'. WE SAW HIM AND CONTINUED DSCNT TO 13,000' AND THERE WAS PLENTY OF SEPARATION. NOTE: CAPT WAS FLYING AND F/O MADE THE RADIO CALL AND SET IN ALT ON ALT WARNING AND CAPTURE OF FLT GUIDANCE. THERE WAS MISCOM EITHER ON OUR PART OR CTLR'S PART.

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.