<< >> NASA ASRS Report 301520, April 1995

Altitude excursion. Flight crew of an medium large transport responded to, and readback clearance apparently intended for another aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	301520
Time
Date	199504
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dqo airport : phl
State Reference	DE
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phl artcc : zid
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 189 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 4832
ASRS Report	301520
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We were at 7000 ft. Phl approach cleared us to 6000 ft, we read back descend to 6000 ft. We descended to 6000 ft. However, approach control said we should be at 7000 ft. Approach control said we could stay at 6000 ft and there was no problem. Approach control seemed to be fatigued -- tired. We didn't pursue this problem any further. We don't know if approach read the wrong altitude, or intended that altitude for another aircraft.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT EXCURSION. FLC OF AN MLG RESPONDED TO, AND READBACK CLRNC APPARENTLY INTENDED FOR ANOTHER ACFT.

Narrative: WE WERE AT 7000 FT. PHL APCH CLRED US TO 6000 FT, WE READ BACK DSND TO 6000 FT. WE DSNDED TO 6000 FT. HOWEVER, APCH CTL SAID WE SHOULD BE AT 7000 FT. APCH CTL SAID WE COULD STAY AT 6000 FT AND THERE WAS NO PROB. APCH CTL SEEMED TO BE FATIGUED -- TIRED. WE DIDN'T PURSUE THIS PROB ANY FURTHER. WE DON'T KNOW IF APCH READ THE WRONG ALT, OR INTENDED THAT ALT FOR ANOTHER ACFT.

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.