Altitude deviation. Excursion from assigned. ATC phraseology.

Attributes
ACN	133226
Time
Date	199001
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bsy
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zma
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute airway : zma
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 22000 flight time type : 12000
ASRS Report	133226
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : detected after the fact other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

First officer was flying. No autoplt was in use. We were leveling at 10000' and handed off to center. On initial contact center said to expect higher in 1-2 mi. After readback I noticed altimeter reading 10700' and first officer setting 12000' in altitude reminder. I told him that was wrong and to return to 10000', and also told the center. Second officer agreed with first officer. Center told us to remain at 11000', as there was no conflict. Both first officer and second officer thought they heard a climb clearance to 12000' due to controller's phraseology of '1-2' mi. Another serious problem exists with large transport in the fact that when 1 microphone is keyed, it blanks out the other receiver; i.e., second officer off talking to company and center calling at same time.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEVIATION. EXCURSION FROM ASSIGNED. ATC PHRASEOLOGY.

Narrative: F/O WAS FLYING. NO AUTOPLT WAS IN USE. WE WERE LEVELING AT 10000' AND HANDED OFF TO CENTER. ON INITIAL CONTACT CENTER SAID TO EXPECT HIGHER IN 1-2 MI. AFTER READBACK I NOTICED ALTIMETER READING 10700' AND F/O SETTING 12000' IN ALT REMINDER. I TOLD HIM THAT WAS WRONG AND TO RETURN TO 10000', AND ALSO TOLD THE CENTER. S/O AGREED WITH F/O. CENTER TOLD US TO REMAIN AT 11000', AS THERE WAS NO CONFLICT. BOTH F/O AND S/O THOUGHT THEY HEARD A CLB CLRNC TO 12000' DUE TO CTLR'S PHRASEOLOGY OF '1-2' MI. ANOTHER SERIOUS PROB EXISTS WITH LGT IN THE FACT THAT WHEN 1 MIC IS KEYED, IT BLANKS OUT THE OTHER RECEIVER; I.E., S/O OFF TALKING TO COMPANY AND CENTER CALLING AT SAME TIME.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.