Pilot deviation descent below assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	293081
Time
Date	199501
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : clt
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl tracon : clt
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	293081
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 360 flight time total : 9500 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	293080
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We believe we were cleared to 10000 ft by ZTL. The majic 8 for north lndgs at clt called for 12000 ft. We believe we read back 10000 ft to atl on the initial pilot discretion clearance and when we actually started our descent from 16000 ft. When we checked in with clt approach we believe we read back our current altitude and that we were descending to 10000 ft. We think what really happened was we erroneously loaded the FMS to 10000 ft and when we were cleared to 12000 ft we questioned it between ourselves, but did not reconfirm it with center. But we did state. Supplemental information from acn 293080: there was some question in the cockpit and we questioned ourselves about the 10000 ft clearance. We believe we read this back as we were handed off to clt approach. The STAR calls for 12000 ft for a north landing at clt but we should have confirmed the altitude with center or approach control.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLTDEV DSCNT BELOW ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: WE BELIEVE WE WERE CLRED TO 10000 FT BY ZTL. THE MAJIC 8 FOR N LNDGS AT CLT CALLED FOR 12000 FT. WE BELIEVE WE READ BACK 10000 FT TO ATL ON THE INITIAL PLT DISCRETION CLRNC AND WHEN WE ACTUALLY STARTED OUR DSCNT FROM 16000 FT. WHEN WE CHKED IN WITH CLT APCH WE BELIEVE WE READ BACK OUR CURRENT ALT AND THAT WE WERE DSNDING TO 10000 FT. WE THINK WHAT REALLY HAPPENED WAS WE ERRONEOUSLY LOADED THE FMS TO 10000 FT AND WHEN WE WERE CLRED TO 12000 FT WE QUESTIONED IT BTWN OURSELVES, BUT DID NOT RECONFIRM IT WITH CTR. BUT WE DID STATE. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 293080: THERE WAS SOME QUESTION IN THE COCKPIT AND WE QUESTIONED OURSELVES ABOUT THE 10000 FT CLRNC. WE BELIEVE WE READ THIS BACK AS WE WERE HANDED OFF TO CLT APCH. THE STAR CALLS FOR 12000 FT FOR A N LNDG AT CLT BUT WE SHOULD HAVE CONFIRMED THE ALT WITH CTR OR APCH CTL.

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.