Altitude deviation.

Attributes
ACN	146054
Time
Date	199005
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : jvc
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 23200 msl bound upper : 24000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 10000
ASRS Report	146054
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Flight cleared to descend to FL240. Later told to expect to cross canuk at 250 KTS and 12000'. In between these 2 xmissions traffic (flight of 2 fgts called at our 11 O'clock position) advised in sight by crew. We had a jump seat rider in the cockpit and conversation centered around current events with air carrier. The captain thought we had been cleared to 12000' and had configured the aircraft for a continued descent. Upon approaching FL240 with the fgts in sight, I asked the captain if we had been cleared to 12000' or were we told to expect 12000'. The captain arrested the descent at approximately FL232 while I sought clarification from center. I could not remember exactly what center clearance was, or how I had acknowledged the clearance. Center affirmed we had been cleared to maintain FL240 and expect to cross canuk at 12000'. I believe this occurrence happened in part due to the continued uncertainty with air carrier that is so prevalent on everyone's mind. It is is important to our personal well being it is hard to keep your mind centered on the job at hand.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEVIATION.

Narrative: FLT CLRED TO DSND TO FL240. LATER TOLD TO EXPECT TO CROSS CANUK AT 250 KTS AND 12000'. IN BTWN THESE 2 XMISSIONS TFC (FLT OF 2 FGTS CALLED AT OUR 11 O'CLOCK POS) ADVISED IN SIGHT BY CREW. WE HAD A JUMP SEAT RIDER IN THE COCKPIT AND CONVERSATION CENTERED AROUND CURRENT EVENTS WITH ACR. THE CAPT THOUGHT WE HAD BEEN CLRED TO 12000' AND HAD CONFIGURED THE ACFT FOR A CONTINUED DSNT. UPON APCHING FL240 WITH THE FGTS IN SIGHT, I ASKED THE CAPT IF WE HAD BEEN CLRED TO 12000' OR WERE WE TOLD TO EXPECT 12000'. THE CAPT ARRESTED THE DSNT AT APPROX FL232 WHILE I SOUGHT CLARIFICATION FROM CENTER. I COULD NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT CENTER CLRNC WAS, OR HOW I HAD ACKNOWLEDGED THE CLRNC. CENTER AFFIRMED WE HAD BEEN CLRED TO MAINTAIN FL240 AND EXPECT TO CROSS CANUK AT 12000'. I BELIEVE THIS OCCURRENCE HAPPENED IN PART DUE TO THE CONTINUED UNCERTAINTY WITH ACR THAT IS SO PREVALENT ON EVERYONE'S MIND. IT IS IS IMPORTANT TO OUR PERSONAL WELL BEING IT IS HARD TO KEEP YOUR MIND CENTERED ON THE JOB AT HAND.

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.