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Flight crew of MTR allegedly cleared to 8000' was climbing to 9000' when corrected by center controller.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 119923 |
| Time | |
| Date | 198908 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : ott |
| State Reference | MD |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 8700 msl bound upper : 9000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdc tracon : zdc |
| Operator | other |
| Make Model Name | Military Trainer |
| Flight Phase | climbout : intermediate altitude |
| Route In Use | departure other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : military |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp pilot : military |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 8000 |
| ASRS Report | 119923 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : military |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : military |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : overshoot conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation |
| Independent Detector | other controllera other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Consequence | Other |
| Miss Distance | horizontal : 15000 vertical : 1000 |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Ambiguous |
| Air Traffic Incident | other |
Narrative:
On climbout from andrews AFB, the controller cleared us to 17,000'. We had filed 5000' and were given an 'expect 8000'' with our original clearance. The aircraft commander (nfp) acknowledged 17,000' and questioned the clearance. The departure controller changed the clearance to 14,000'. We acknowledged. We were then given a frequency change to center frequency. When we went to center frequency we asked for 9000' since 14,000' was inefficient. The controller said 9000' was was unavailable. We continued our climb to 14,000'. At 8700' the controller said that he told us 9000' was not available and to descend immediately to 8000'. We descended immediately. As we were doing so, I saw a 2 engine transport type at our 2 O'clock 3 mi at 9000'. It is possible that we misinterpreted the clearance but I don't think so. I am nearly positive that the first controller was confused and that there was a bad handoff. We should all strive for more precise, crisp, communication procedures.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: FLT CREW OF MTR ALLEGEDLY CLEARED TO 8000' WAS CLIMBING TO 9000' WHEN CORRECTED BY CENTER CTLR.
Narrative: ON CLIMBOUT FROM ANDREWS AFB, THE CTLR CLRED US TO 17,000'. WE HAD FILED 5000' AND WERE GIVEN AN 'EXPECT 8000'' WITH OUR ORIGINAL CLRNC. THE ACFT COMMANDER (NFP) ACKNOWLEDGED 17,000' AND QUESTIONED THE CLRNC. THE DEP CTLR CHANGED THE CLRNC TO 14,000'. WE ACKNOWLEDGED. WE WERE THEN GIVEN A FREQ CHANGE TO CENTER FREQ. WHEN WE WENT TO CENTER FREQ WE ASKED FOR 9000' SINCE 14,000' WAS INEFFICIENT. THE CTLR SAID 9000' WAS WAS UNAVAILABLE. WE CONTINUED OUR CLIMB TO 14,000'. AT 8700' THE CTLR SAID THAT HE TOLD US 9000' WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND TO DSND IMMEDIATELY TO 8000'. WE DESCENDED IMMEDIATELY. AS WE WERE DOING SO, I SAW A 2 ENGINE TRANSPORT TYPE AT OUR 2 O'CLOCK 3 MI AT 9000'. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT WE MISINTERPRETED THE CLRNC BUT I DON'T THINK SO. I AM NEARLY POSITIVE THAT THE FIRST CTLR WAS CONFUSED AND THAT THERE WAS A BAD HANDOFF. WE SHOULD ALL STRIVE FOR MORE PRECISE, CRISP, COM PROCS.
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.