<< >> NASA ASRS Report 252334, September 1993

Altitude bust.

Attributes
ACN	252334
Time
Date	199309
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pxt
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 10750 flight time type : 1900
ASRS Report	252334
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Cleared to cross pxt at FL280 at our discretion. I read back the clearance and thought the first officer understood the clearance. At approximately 10 NM from pxt we were still at FL330. I informed the first officer (PF) that the clearance was to cross pxt at FL280. He said he thought it was to descend at our discretion. I reconfirmed with center and they cleared us to a lower altitude. No conflict occurred. I had been off frequency attending to normal required duties. Double-checking to make sure the clearance was understood prior to me leaving frequency probably would have avoided this situation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT BUST.

Narrative: CLRED TO CROSS PXT AT FL280 AT OUR DISCRETION. I READ BACK THE CLRNC AND THOUGHT THE FO UNDERSTOOD THE CLRNC. AT APPROX 10 NM FROM PXT WE WERE STILL AT FL330. I INFORMED THE FO (PF) THAT THE CLRNC WAS TO CROSS PXT AT FL280. HE SAID HE THOUGHT IT WAS TO DSND AT OUR DISCRETION. I RECONFIRMED WITH CTR AND THEY CLRED US TO A LOWER ALT. NO CONFLICT OCCURRED. I HAD BEEN OFF FREQ ATTENDING TO NORMAL REQUIRED DUTIES. DOUBLE-CHKING TO MAKE SURE THE CLRNC WAS UNDERSTOOD PRIOR TO ME LEAVING FREQ PROBABLY WOULD HAVE AVOIDED THIS SIT.

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.