Landing pattern altitude confusion tower flight crew communication.

Attributes
ACN	315350
Time
Date	199508
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : teb
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1200 msl bound upper : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : teb
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 5800 flight time type : 120
ASRS Report	315350
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	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:

We were cleared for the VOR/DME a approach at teb by approach control. After we contacted teb tower we were cleared, 'descend to 1500 ft and cross the VOR at 1500 ft.' once we crossed the VOR, PF entered a left downwind for runway 19 and started a slow descent. At 1200-1300 ft MSL the tower controller questioned us about our altitude. Reply: 'at 1200-1300 ft.' tower: 'climb back to 1500 ft and maintain 1500 ft until further clearance.' while climbing back to 1500 ft I saw an aircraft passing underneath on final for runway 24. Tower came back and told us that the previous clearance was to descend to 1500 ft, cross the VOR at 1500 ft and maintain 1500 ft. I replied that we only were told to descend to 1500 ft and cross the VOR at 1500 ft. Both pilots admit that we only heard the descent and cross portion of the clearance and not the maintain 1500 ft part. But we also have to admit that we could have missed that part due to the high traffic and high radio traffic on the tower frequency. We definitely didn't leave and won't leave an assigned altitude unless we are cleared to do so or unless we believed that a/the previous clearance permits us to do so. Controller was very specific with his clearance for traffic following us. Problem: high traffic volume, high traffic volume on the frequency, many ways to get distracted at a busy airport and traffic for runway 19 at 1500 ft on downwind for runway 19 while traffic on final for runway 24 lower than 1500 ft (probably 800- 1200 ft). That is asking for trouble even when everything and everybody works together as cleared by the controller.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LNDG PATTERN ALT CONFUSION TWR FLC COM.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED FOR THE VOR/DME A APCH AT TEB BY APCH CTL. AFTER WE CONTACTED TEB TWR WE WERE CLRED, 'DSND TO 1500 FT AND CROSS THE VOR AT 1500 FT.' ONCE WE CROSSED THE VOR, PF ENTERED A L DOWNWIND FOR RWY 19 AND STARTED A SLOW DSCNT. AT 1200-1300 FT MSL THE TWR CTLR QUESTIONED US ABOUT OUR ALT. REPLY: 'AT 1200-1300 FT.' TWR: 'CLB BACK TO 1500 FT AND MAINTAIN 1500 FT UNTIL FURTHER CLRNC.' WHILE CLBING BACK TO 1500 FT I SAW AN ACFT PASSING UNDERNEATH ON FINAL FOR RWY 24. TWR CAME BACK AND TOLD US THAT THE PREVIOUS CLRNC WAS TO DSND TO 1500 FT, CROSS THE VOR AT 1500 FT AND MAINTAIN 1500 FT. I REPLIED THAT WE ONLY WERE TOLD TO DSND TO 1500 FT AND CROSS THE VOR AT 1500 FT. BOTH PLTS ADMIT THAT WE ONLY HEARD THE DSCNT AND CROSS PORTION OF THE CLRNC AND NOT THE MAINTAIN 1500 FT PART. BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO ADMIT THAT WE COULD HAVE MISSED THAT PART DUE TO THE HIGH TFC AND HIGH RADIO TFC ON THE TWR FREQ. WE DEFINITELY DIDN'T LEAVE AND WON'T LEAVE AN ASSIGNED ALT UNLESS WE ARE CLRED TO DO SO OR UNLESS WE BELIEVED THAT A/THE PREVIOUS CLRNC PERMITS US TO DO SO. CTLR WAS VERY SPECIFIC WITH HIS CLRNC FOR TFC FOLLOWING US. PROB: HIGH TFC VOLUME, HIGH TFC VOLUME ON THE FREQ, MANY WAYS TO GET DISTRACTED AT A BUSY ARPT AND TFC FOR RWY 19 AT 1500 FT ON DOWNWIND FOR RWY 19 WHILE TFC ON FINAL FOR RWY 24 LOWER THAN 1500 FT (PROBABLY 800- 1200 FT). THAT IS ASKING FOR TROUBLE EVEN WHEN EVERYTHING AND EVERYBODY WORKS TOGETHER AS CLRED BY THE CTLR.

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.