 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
A pilot and instructor were confused by the updated clearance provided by ATC that appeared to direct them towards rising terrain. Before the crew could question the clearance; ATC provided an low altitude alert along with notice of a possible pilot deviation.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1246949 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201503 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | L30.TRACON |
| State Reference | NV |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft High Wing 1 Eng Fixed Gear |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Initial Climb |
| Route In Use | SID NOTWN3.LAS |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Instructor Pilot Not Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Commercial |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 75 Flight Crew Total 400 Flight Crew Type 400 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT |
Narrative:
We were climbing via the north town three departure. Around 3;000 feet we contacted departure. ATC (las vegas departure) gave us a new altimeter setting from 30.03 to 30.00 and then proceeded with the following clearance. Aircraft X; fly straight out; climb maintain 9;000 feet. Our current altitude was approximately 3;800 feet before reaching the las R-313 so we were still heading westerly towards terrain and not established on the las R313 outbound. Student noted how strange it was for ATC to vector us this low and close to terrain. Moment later; ATC gave us a low altitude alert and suggested a right turn to 090. Then ATC proceeded about a possible ATC deviation and to call a number.confusion between what ATC meant to say and what pilots actually did. The clearance 'fly straight out' was filled with ambiguity (was still flying westerly and not heading northwest on published procedure and was perceived as a vector for climb. Before pilots had a chance to request clarification; low altitude alert was issued.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A pilot and instructor were confused by the updated clearance provided by ATC that appeared to direct them towards rising terrain. Before the crew could question the clearance; ATC provided an low altitude alert along with notice of a possible pilot deviation.
Narrative: We were climbing via the North Town Three Departure. Around 3;000 feet we contacted departure. ATC (Las Vegas Departure) gave us a new altimeter setting from 30.03 to 30.00 and then proceeded with the following clearance. Aircraft X; fly straight out; climb maintain 9;000 feet. Our current altitude was approximately 3;800 feet before reaching the LAS R-313 so we were still heading westerly towards terrain and not established on the LAS R313 outbound. Student noted how strange it was for ATC to vector us this low and close to terrain. Moment later; ATC gave us a low altitude alert and suggested a right turn to 090. Then ATC proceeded about a possible ATC deviation and to call a number.Confusion between what ATC meant to say and what pilots actually did. The clearance 'fly straight out' was filled with ambiguity (was still flying westerly and not heading northwest on published procedure and was perceived as a vector for climb. Before pilots had a chance to request clarification; low altitude alert was issued.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.