Air carrier medium large transport altitude deviation crossing restriction undershot.

Attributes
ACN	130882
Time
Date	198912
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : gnv
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 16000 msl bound upper : 22000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : j85
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	130882
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 175 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	130883
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation Operational Deviation

Narrative:

We were level at 22000'. I copied and read back a clearance to cross 50 mi north of gnv VOR at 16000'. Approximately 10 mi north of gnv, the controller asked us whether we had copied our clearance to cross 10 north of gnv at 16000'. We replied that we had read back the clearance to cross 50 north of gnv at 16000', and he told us to expedite our descent to 16000'. I believe the problem was caused by the controller's failure to listen to our readback of the clearance. This problem is constantly encountered, and the controllers not listening to readbacks bypasses the only safety factor we have in the clearance system. Further, pilots are routinely being violated even in these cases, suggesting that the courts think flight crews are responsible for being perfect, and incapable of misunderstanding radio conversation. This is a serious error.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG ALT DEVIATION CROSSING RESTRICTION UNDERSHOT.

Narrative: WE WERE LEVEL AT 22000'. I COPIED AND READ BACK A CLRNC TO CROSS 50 MI N OF GNV VOR AT 16000'. APPROX 10 MI N OF GNV, THE CTLR ASKED US WHETHER WE HAD COPIED OUR CLRNC TO CROSS 10 N OF GNV AT 16000'. WE REPLIED THAT WE HAD READ BACK THE CLRNC TO CROSS 50 N OF GNV AT 16000', AND HE TOLD US TO EXPEDITE OUR DSCNT TO 16000'. I BELIEVE THE PROB WAS CAUSED BY THE CTLR'S FAILURE TO LISTEN TO OUR READBACK OF THE CLRNC. THIS PROBLEM IS CONSTANTLY ENCOUNTERED, AND THE CTLRS NOT LISTENING TO READBACKS BYPASSES THE ONLY SAFETY FACTOR WE HAVE IN THE CLRNC SYS. FURTHER, PLTS ARE ROUTINELY BEING VIOLATED EVEN IN THESE CASES, SUGGESTING THAT THE COURTS THINK FLT CREWS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR BEING PERFECT, AND INCAPABLE OF MISUNDERSTANDING RADIO CONVERSATION. THIS IS A SERIOUS ERROR.

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.