Commuter light transport altitude deviation excursion from clearance altitude on arc to eau VOR back...

Attributes
ACN	197744
Time
Date	199112
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : eau
State Reference	WI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2800 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : msp
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 5900 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	197744
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	197647
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were arriving in eau at 9000 ft msp from the west at 15 DME from the VOR. We had requested a lower altitude 3 times, when we got a clearance to 6000 ft. He later cleared us to the 'akett DME fix via the 12 DME arc.' when we were established on the arc we proceeded to descend to the approach mins of 2800 ft and intercepted the localizer. We were then advised of our altitude deviation. We landed without incident. During this segment of time we had 8000 ft to get down in only 14 mi. The controller was extremely busy and we were busy. When he gave us our clearance the controller did not say to maintain 6000. Only that we were 'cleared to the akett DME fix via the 12 DME arc as published.' the phraseology used by the controller 'as published' indicated to me that we could descend to the published altitude on the segment of the approach that we were established on, because that is the 'published' altitude on the plate. To avoid such confusion, when a new clearance is given, the controller should restate the altitude clearance. Otherwise, as published is just as the approach plate says.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMMUTER LTT ALTDEV EXCURSION FROM CLRNC ALT ON ARC TO EAU VOR BACK COURSE APCH.

Narrative: WE WERE ARRIVING IN EAU AT 9000 FT MSP FROM THE W AT 15 DME FROM THE VOR. WE HAD REQUESTED A LOWER ALT 3 TIMES, WHEN WE GOT A CLRNC TO 6000 FT. HE LATER CLRED US TO THE 'AKETT DME FIX VIA THE 12 DME ARC.' WHEN WE WERE ESTABLISHED ON THE ARC WE PROCEEDED TO DSND TO THE APCH MINS OF 2800 FT AND INTERCEPTED THE LOC. WE WERE THEN ADVISED OF OUR ALTDEV. WE LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. DURING THIS SEGMENT OF TIME WE HAD 8000 FT TO GET DOWN IN ONLY 14 MI. THE CTLR WAS EXTREMELY BUSY AND WE WERE BUSY. WHEN HE GAVE US OUR CLRNC THE CTLR DID NOT SAY TO MAINTAIN 6000. ONLY THAT WE WERE 'CLRED TO THE AKETT DME FIX VIA THE 12 DME ARC AS PUBLISHED.' THE PHRASEOLOGY USED BY THE CTLR 'AS PUBLISHED' INDICATED TO ME THAT WE COULD DSND TO THE PUBLISHED ALT ON THE SEGMENT OF THE APCH THAT WE WERE ESTABLISHED ON, BECAUSE THAT IS THE 'PUBLISHED' ALT ON THE PLATE. TO AVOID SUCH CONFUSION, WHEN A NEW CLRNC IS GIVEN, THE CTLR SHOULD RESTATE THE ALT CLRNC. OTHERWISE, AS PUBLISHED IS JUST AS THE APCH PLATE SAYS.

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.

Commuter light transport altitude deviation excursion from clearance altitude on arc to eau VOR back course approach.