First officer fails to respond to commands from captain and ATC.

Attributes
ACN	301230
Time
Date	199504
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sli airport : sna
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : lax
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Learjet 36
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 3400 flight time type : 1300
ASRS Report	301230
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : became reoriented other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was the PNF on a ferry flight from sna to cno. As we leveled off at 5000 ft and completed the after takeoff checklist and cruise checks, I advised the PF I was going off the primary ATC frequency to check the ATIS at cno on the secondary frequency. The PF responded that he had control of the primary ATC frequency. After obtaining cno's ATIS, I returned to the primary frequency, where socal departure was querying, quite angrily, if we could hear socal departure. Socal advised that we needed to climb immediately to 6000 ft for VFR traffic at 5500 ft and for direction of travel. I responded we would climb. The PF did not initiate a climb immediately. I was about to ask the PF when he was going to climb when socal again commanded us to climb for VFR traffic at 5500 ft. Luckily, the VFR traffic had us in sight and maintained separation. Finally, the PF climbed to 6000 ft. The remainder of the flight was normal and uneventful. My perception of the situation was that the PF was 'out to lunch' and not keeping up with aircraft. I have never seen the PF be so preoccupied with other than flying on the flight deck. In the future, I will always monitor both ATC frequencys to help cover the other pilot and will tug on the yoke if the PF is not climbing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FO FAILS TO RESPOND TO COMMANDS FROM CAPT AND ATC.

Narrative: I WAS THE PNF ON A FERRY FLT FROM SNA TO CNO. AS WE LEVELED OFF AT 5000 FT AND COMPLETED THE AFTER TKOF CHKLIST AND CRUISE CHKS, I ADVISED THE PF I WAS GOING OFF THE PRIMARY ATC FREQ TO CHK THE ATIS AT CNO ON THE SECONDARY FREQ. THE PF RESPONDED THAT HE HAD CTL OF THE PRIMARY ATC FREQ. AFTER OBTAINING CNO'S ATIS, I RETURNED TO THE PRIMARY FREQ, WHERE SOCAL DEP WAS QUERYING, QUITE ANGRILY, IF WE COULD HEAR SOCAL DEP. SOCAL ADVISED THAT WE NEEDED TO CLB IMMEDIATELY TO 6000 FT FOR VFR TFC AT 5500 FT AND FOR DIRECTION OF TRAVEL. I RESPONDED WE WOULD CLB. THE PF DID NOT INITIATE A CLB IMMEDIATELY. I WAS ABOUT TO ASK THE PF WHEN HE WAS GOING TO CLB WHEN SOCAL AGAIN COMMANDED US TO CLB FOR VFR TFC AT 5500 FT. LUCKILY, THE VFR TFC HAD US IN SIGHT AND MAINTAINED SEPARATION. FINALLY, THE PF CLBED TO 6000 FT. THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT WAS NORMAL AND UNEVENTFUL. MY PERCEPTION OF THE SIT WAS THAT THE PF WAS 'OUT TO LUNCH' AND NOT KEEPING UP WITH ACFT. I HAVE NEVER SEEN THE PF BE SO PREOCCUPIED WITH OTHER THAN FLYING ON THE FLT DECK. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL ALWAYS MONITOR BOTH ATC FREQS TO HELP COVER THE OTHER PLT AND WILL TUG ON THE YOKE IF THE PF IS NOT CLBING.

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.