Air carrier widebody transport has lost contact with ATC. Deviates from assigned altitude enroute.

Attributes
ACN	126179
Time
Date	198910
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : birk
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 37000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : birk
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 4 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : atlantic
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 17500
ASRS Report	126179
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departed anchorage for prestwick at PM14Z, climbing initially to 290. Was cleared by zan to climb to 330 at approximately AM15Z. At aj, was told to contact cambridge bay radio on HF. Unable to contact any facs on HF. There was a complete radio blackout that night. All position reports were broadcast on both 121.5 and 131.8. Approaching 7120 north 20 west (flight planned to climb to 370) we were in contact with air carrier X who was cruising at 350. We both determined that my climbing from 330 to 370 would not be a conflict -- I climbed. Later, reporting to reykjavik control, they informed me that I should have remained at 330.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR WDB HAS LOST CONTACT WITH ATC. DEVIATES FROM ASSIGNED ALT ENROUTE.

Narrative: DEPARTED ANCHORAGE FOR PRESTWICK AT PM14Z, CLIMBING INITIALLY TO 290. WAS CLRED BY ZAN TO CLIMB TO 330 AT APPROX AM15Z. AT AJ, WAS TOLD TO CONTACT CAMBRIDGE BAY RADIO ON HF. UNABLE TO CONTACT ANY FACS ON HF. THERE WAS A COMPLETE RADIO BLACKOUT THAT NIGHT. ALL POSITION REPORTS WERE BROADCAST ON BOTH 121.5 AND 131.8. APCHING 7120 N 20 W (FLT PLANNED TO CLIMB TO 370) WE WERE IN CONTACT WITH ACR X WHO WAS CRUISING AT 350. WE BOTH DETERMINED THAT MY CLIMBING FROM 330 TO 370 WOULD NOT BE A CONFLICT -- I CLIMBED. LATER, REPORTING TO REYKJAVIK CTL, THEY INFORMED ME THAT I SHOULD HAVE REMAINED AT 330.

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.