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A B737 crew reported while descending through 10;000 feet to anc runway 7R; ATC changed their runway to 33. Confused; the crew began setting up for runway 33 when ATC cleared them for a runway 7R visual approach; [and to] track the localizer which they discovered out of service. By then seriously distracted; the crew descended below their assigned altitude.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1280935 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201507 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0001-0600 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | A11.TRACON |
| State Reference | AK |
| Environment | |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Widebody Transport |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Initial Approach |
| Route In Use | Visual Approach |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Not Flying Check Pilot Captain |
| Person 2 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying First Officer |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Altitude Overshoot Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Procedural Clearance |
Narrative:
During our descent through 10;000 feet into anc after our arrival fix (gasto) we received an unexpected runway change from 7R to runway 33. While being vectored to a visual approach we were given a heading of 070; maintain 4;000 feet to intercept and track inbound on the 7R localizer. The clearance made no sense as we had already changed nav frequencies to our assigned runway. We changed back to the 7R localizer only to realize that it was not emitting a signal and did not identify audibly. While trying [to] query ATC we visually tracked inbound to runway 7R until further clearance was given. During this time both pilots became distracted and we descended below our assigned altitude. Due to the visual conditions; the runway change and the bogus clearance I failed to back up the pilot flying and failed as the pm (pilot monitoring). No mention of the deviation was made by ATC. In an effort to comply with a confusing ATC clearance we became distracted from our primary flight duties of flying and monitoring.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A B737 crew reported while descending through 10;000 feet to ANC Runway 7R; ATC changed their Runway to 33. Confused; the crew began setting up for Runway 33 when ATC cleared them for a Runway 7R visual approach; [and to] track the localizer which they discovered out of service. By then seriously distracted; the crew descended below their assigned altitude.
Narrative: During our descent through 10;000 feet into ANC after our arrival fix (GASTO) we received an unexpected runway change from 7R to Runway 33. While being vectored to a visual approach we were given a heading of 070; maintain 4;000 feet to intercept and track inbound on the 7R LOC. The clearance made no sense as we had already changed nav frequencies to our assigned runway. We changed back to the 7R LOC only to realize that it was not emitting a signal and did not identify audibly. While trying [to] query ATC we visually tracked inbound to Runway 7R until further clearance was given. During this time both pilots became distracted and we descended below our assigned altitude. Due to the visual conditions; the runway change and the bogus clearance I failed to back up the pilot flying and failed as the PM (Pilot Monitoring). No mention of the deviation was made by ATC. In an effort to comply with a confusing ATC clearance we became distracted from our primary flight duties of flying and monitoring.
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.