Altitude deviation.

Attributes
ACN	294613
Time
Date	199501
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lax
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 13000 msl bound upper : 14000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival star : star enroute airway : zla
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 17000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	295613
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

En route den-lax, we had been cleared 'INS direct civet, expect civet 1 arrival lax.' after several step-down altitude clrncs, we were cleared to 14000 ft which is the crossing restr at civet. Typically, the next clearance is 'cleared civet 1 arrival,' at which point you cross civet at 14000 ft and descend to 12000 ft. Instead the controller cleared us to 'cross 44 DME east of lax VOR at 14000 ft, descend to cross arnes at 10000 ft.' (captain and first officer are both on the runway 25L ILS at this time). At civet, (52 ILS DME) we left 14000 ft for 10000 ft. Leaving 13000 ft, the controller told us to maintain 14000 ft. At this point, we were within the lax 44 DME and we asked if we could continue to 10000 ft. He was agreeable. When I queried him about the altitude, he confirmed that we were to maintain 14000 ft until the lax 44 DME. He also said there was no problem or conflict -- while I accept full responsibility for the excursion. The ATC clearance was very unusual and not in conformance with the usual civet arrival. Neither I, my 2 fellow pilots, or the check-pilot giving me an annual en route check caught the error.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV.

Narrative: ENRTE DEN-LAX, WE HAD BEEN CLRED 'INS DIRECT CIVET, EXPECT CIVET 1 ARR LAX.' AFTER SEVERAL STEP-DOWN ALT CLRNCS, WE WERE CLRED TO 14000 FT WHICH IS THE XING RESTR AT CIVET. TYPICALLY, THE NEXT CLRNC IS 'CLRED CIVET 1 ARR,' AT WHICH POINT YOU CROSS CIVET AT 14000 FT AND DSND TO 12000 FT. INSTEAD THE CTLR CLRED US TO 'CROSS 44 DME E OF LAX VOR AT 14000 FT, DSND TO CROSS ARNES AT 10000 FT.' (CAPT AND FO ARE BOTH ON THE RWY 25L ILS AT THIS TIME). AT CIVET, (52 ILS DME) WE LEFT 14000 FT FOR 10000 FT. LEAVING 13000 FT, THE CTLR TOLD US TO MAINTAIN 14000 FT. AT THIS POINT, WE WERE WITHIN THE LAX 44 DME AND WE ASKED IF WE COULD CONTINUE TO 10000 FT. HE WAS AGREEABLE. WHEN I QUERIED HIM ABOUT THE ALT, HE CONFIRMED THAT WE WERE TO MAINTAIN 14000 FT UNTIL THE LAX 44 DME. HE ALSO SAID THERE WAS NO PROB OR CONFLICT -- WHILE I ACCEPT FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE EXCURSION. THE ATC CLRNC WAS VERY UNUSUAL AND NOT IN CONFORMANCE WITH THE USUAL CIVET ARR. NEITHER I, MY 2 FELLOW PLTS, OR THE CHK-PLT GIVING ME AN ANNUAL ENRTE CHK CAUGHT 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.