Altitude deviation altitude excursion during radar vectoring.

Attributes
ACN	190325
Time
Date	199109
Day	Mon
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : iad
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 17000 msl bound upper : 17500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : iad
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other cruise other
Route In Use	departure other enroute : on vectors enroute airway : j518
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 13000
ASRS Report	190325
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time type : 26
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Captain is flying our widebody transport. He is brand new on aircraft, this being his first trip. We were instructed to climb and maintain 17000 ft by dulles departure. Previously we were told to intercept J518. I set it up in box and executed and captain let autoplt intercept J518. Departure then said turn right to 320 degree and intercept J518. There was a moment of confusion while I grabbed a chart. The captain (on autoplt) turned the aircraft to 320 degree and reengaged the LNAV. I said 'we're right on J518.' of course the autoplt turned back to the original heading to stay on the airway. While I questioned dulles the captain became agitated as to why the autoplt wouldn't turn to 320 degree. I again stated 'we're on the airway.' the captain grabbed the yoke and disengaged the autoplt. I said we're assigned 17000 as he was in a slight climb. At 17200 I repeated the altitude clearance. At 17500 I said '17000.' dulles handed us off and center confirmed we were on J518 and climb to FL200 (whew). Factors. Controller screw up. Captain unfamiliar. Captain's agitation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEV ALT EXCURSION DURING RADAR VECTORING.

Narrative: CAPT IS FLYING OUR WDB. HE IS BRAND NEW ON ACFT, THIS BEING HIS FIRST TRIP. WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO CLB AND MAINTAIN 17000 FT BY DULLES DEP. PREVIOUSLY WE WERE TOLD TO INTERCEPT J518. I SET IT UP IN BOX AND EXECUTED AND CAPT LET AUTOPLT INTERCEPT J518. DEP THEN SAID TURN R TO 320 DEG AND INTERCEPT J518. THERE WAS A MOMENT OF CONFUSION WHILE I GRABBED A CHART. THE CAPT (ON AUTOPLT) TURNED THE ACFT TO 320 DEG AND REENGAGED THE LNAV. I SAID 'WE'RE RIGHT ON J518.' OF COURSE THE AUTOPLT TURNED BACK TO THE ORIGINAL HDG TO STAY ON THE AIRWAY. WHILE I QUESTIONED DULLES THE CAPT BECAME AGITATED AS TO WHY THE AUTOPLT WOULDN'T TURN TO 320 DEG. I AGAIN STATED 'WE'RE ON THE AIRWAY.' THE CAPT GRABBED THE YOKE AND DISENGAGED THE AUTOPLT. I SAID WE'RE ASSIGNED 17000 AS HE WAS IN A SLIGHT CLB. AT 17200 I REPEATED THE ALT CLRNC. AT 17500 I SAID '17000.' DULLES HANDED US OFF AND CENTER CONFIRMED WE WERE ON J518 AND CLB TO FL200 (WHEW). FACTORS. CTLR SCREW UP. CAPT UNFAMILIAR. CAPT'S AGITATION.

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.