Air carrier heavy transport track heading deviation.

Attributes
ACN	137844
Time
Date	199002
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mex
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11000 msl bound upper : 14000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mex tower : myr
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Heavy Transport
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	137844
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were proceeding direct to otumba, nb which is a standard arrival for mex. At approximately 30 mi out the approach controller stated that otumba was our clearance limit. As we approached otumba the captain attempted to contact approach control but was unable due to radio congestion. Overhead otumba ATC called us and said 'descend to 11000'.' the captain responded '14000' for 11000' and we are on the otumba arrival'. ATC response was 'roger'. As a result we both thought we were cleared for the otumba arrival. ATC intercepted us during the arrival with radar vectors which resequenced us for the approach. At this time ATC stated that he thought we were going to hold at otumba. There didn't appear to be a conflict of any kind. When cultural and language problems blend with rapid fire type clrncs the chance of error is greatly heightened if accepted terminology is not understood.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR HVT TRACK HEADING DEVIATION.

Narrative: WE WERE PROCEEDING DIRECT TO OTUMBA, NB WHICH IS A STANDARD ARR FOR MEX. AT APPROX 30 MI OUT THE APCH CTLR STATED THAT OTUMBA WAS OUR CLRNC LIMIT. AS WE APCHED OTUMBA THE CAPT ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT APCH CTL BUT WAS UNABLE DUE TO RADIO CONGESTION. OVERHEAD OTUMBA ATC CALLED US AND SAID 'DSND TO 11000'.' THE CAPT RESPONDED '14000' FOR 11000' AND WE ARE ON THE OTUMBA ARR'. ATC RESPONSE WAS 'ROGER'. AS A RESULT WE BOTH THOUGHT WE WERE CLRED FOR THE OTUMBA ARR. ATC INTERCEPTED US DURING THE ARR WITH RADAR VECTORS WHICH RESEQUENCED US FOR THE APCH. AT THIS TIME ATC STATED THAT HE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO HOLD AT OTUMBA. THERE DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE A CONFLICT OF ANY KIND. WHEN CULTURAL AND LANGUAGE PROBLEMS BLEND WITH RAPID FIRE TYPE CLRNCS THE CHANCE OF ERROR IS GREATLY HEIGHTENED IF ACCEPTED TERMINOLOGY IS NOT UNDERSTOOD.

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.