Altitude deviation altitude undershot in climb. Non adherence to ATC clearance.

Attributes
ACN	243142
Time
Date	199305
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dca
State Reference	DC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc tracon : cvg
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 14200 flight time type : 4400
ASRS Report	243142
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was PF on flight phl-clt and remember being assigned FL350 by ZDC, (positive control area frequency 135.97). Then a couple of mins after leveling off, center instructed us to climb to FL350. I looked at the altimeter -- 33000 ft. I looked at the altitude alerter -- 35000 ft, then looked at the FMC cruise page -- 33000 ft. Apparently the first officer set up the FMC for 33000 ft cruise even though the clearance was to 35000 ft and I did not xchk to verify the programming of the route and altitude. Interestingly, both of us were surprised we did not catch the error.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV ALT UNDERSHOT IN CLB. NON ADHERENCE TO ATC CLRNC.

Narrative: I WAS PF ON FLT PHL-CLT AND REMEMBER BEING ASSIGNED FL350 BY ZDC, (PCA FREQ 135.97). THEN A COUPLE OF MINS AFTER LEVELING OFF, CTR INSTRUCTED US TO CLB TO FL350. I LOOKED AT THE ALTIMETER -- 33000 FT. I LOOKED AT THE ALT ALERTER -- 35000 FT, THEN LOOKED AT THE FMC CRUISE PAGE -- 33000 FT. APPARENTLY THE FO SET UP THE FMC FOR 33000 FT CRUISE EVEN THOUGH THE CLRNC WAS TO 35000 FT AND I DID NOT XCHK TO VERIFY THE PROGRAMMING OF THE RTE AND ALT. INTERESTINGLY, BOTH OF US WERE SURPRISED WE DID NOT CATCH THE ERROR.

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.