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Pilot programs correct altitude in-flight management computer and wrong altitude in mode control panel and defaults to wrong altitude.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 294000 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199501 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : zdc |
| State Reference | DC |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 32000 msl bound upper : 33000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | Other Other |
| Flight Phase | descent other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 2500 |
| ASRS Report | 294000 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : overshoot altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance |
| 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:
In cruise at FL350, ATC cleared us to cross jaxsn at FL330. A few mins later ATC reclred us to cross 15 NM south of jaxsn at FL330. I wrote down the clearance altitude and distance. Then set 31000 ft in the mode control panel (B757), built the fix and entered FL330 in the FMS. As we approached the assigned crossing fix I glanced at the 31000 ft I had entered in the mode control panel and determined we would have to increase our rate of descent to comfortably make FL310. The FMS showed us low on the descent profile but I ignored it as they can occasionally be off. The aircraft tried to level at FL330 in VNAV but I was convinced our assigned altitude was FL310. I selected flight level change on the mode control panel to continue descent. At approximately FL320 ZDV told us to climb to FL330 and turn left approximately 30 degrees left of course. We complied. The only reason I can think of for having selected different altitude for the FMS and mode control panel is a note commonly placed on our atl-dca flight plans advising us ZDC routing requires crossing jaxsn at or below FL310. We also were on the final day of a 4 day trip having begun the day with an XA30 wake up.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PLT PROGRAMS CORRECT ALT INFLT MGMNT COMPUTER AND WRONG ALT IN MODE CTL PANEL AND DEFAULTS TO WRONG ALT.
Narrative: IN CRUISE AT FL350, ATC CLRED US TO CROSS JAXSN AT FL330. A FEW MINS LATER ATC RECLRED US TO CROSS 15 NM S OF JAXSN AT FL330. I WROTE DOWN THE CLRNC ALT AND DISTANCE. THEN SET 31000 FT IN THE MODE CTL PANEL (B757), BUILT THE FIX AND ENTERED FL330 IN THE FMS. AS WE APCHED THE ASSIGNED XING FIX I GLANCED AT THE 31000 FT I HAD ENTERED IN THE MODE CTL PANEL AND DETERMINED WE WOULD HAVE TO INCREASE OUR RATE OF DSCNT TO COMFORTABLY MAKE FL310. THE FMS SHOWED US LOW ON THE DSCNT PROFILE BUT I IGNORED IT AS THEY CAN OCCASIONALLY BE OFF. THE ACFT TRIED TO LEVEL AT FL330 IN VNAV BUT I WAS CONVINCED OUR ASSIGNED ALT WAS FL310. I SELECTED FLT LEVEL CHANGE ON THE MODE CTL PANEL TO CONTINUE DSCNT. AT APPROX FL320 ZDV TOLD US TO CLB TO FL330 AND TURN L APPROX 30 DEGS L OF COURSE. WE COMPLIED. THE ONLY REASON I CAN THINK OF FOR HAVING SELECTED DIFFERENT ALT FOR THE FMS AND MODE CTL PANEL IS A NOTE COMMONLY PLACED ON OUR ATL-DCA FLT PLANS ADVISING US ZDC ROUTING REQUIRES XING JAXSN AT OR BELOW FL310. WE ALSO WERE ON THE FINAL DAY OF A 4 DAY TRIP HAVING BEGUN THE DAY WITH AN XA30 WAKE UP.
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.