Flight crew of an medium large transport failed to enter the proper holding pattern during arrival.

Attributes
ACN	316370
Time
Date	199509
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bal
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bal
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	other other : other pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	316370
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
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:

It now appears that a breakdown in communications occurred. We were given the following holding instructions: hold northeast of balance VOR on the 030 degree radial/005 DME with right turns. This caused some confusion. It appeared that the controller wanted us to hold south of the 5 DME fix and north of balance VOR. We were at 12000 ft and flying south. At the fix (5 DME), we flew a 180 degree heading for 1 min to make a tear drop entry. At 12000 ft, we are only 3 mi from the VOR. Our entry took us south of balance. This was time the controller indicated there was some confusion about our clearance. I verified that she wanted us to hold north of the VOR rather than north of the 5 DME fix. She concurred. It still appeared that she may have meant to hold us north of the 5 DME fix on the 030 degree radial. The problem could have been prevented by using better phraseology. The problem would not have occurred if we were given instructions to hold northeast of a specific intersection.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF AN MLG FAILED TO ENTER THE PROPER HOLDING PATTERN DURING ARR.

Narrative: IT NOW APPEARS THAT A BREAKDOWN IN COMS OCCURRED. WE WERE GIVEN THE FOLLOWING HOLDING INSTRUCTIONS: HOLD NE OF BAL VOR ON THE 030 DEG RADIAL/005 DME WITH R TURNS. THIS CAUSED SOME CONFUSION. IT APPEARED THAT THE CTLR WANTED US TO HOLD S OF THE 5 DME FIX AND N OF BAL VOR. WE WERE AT 12000 FT AND FLYING S. AT THE FIX (5 DME), WE FLEW A 180 DEG HDG FOR 1 MIN TO MAKE A TEAR DROP ENTRY. AT 12000 FT, WE ARE ONLY 3 MI FROM THE VOR. OUR ENTRY TOOK US S OF BAL. THIS WAS TIME THE CTLR INDICATED THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION ABOUT OUR CLRNC. I VERIFIED THAT SHE WANTED US TO HOLD N OF THE VOR RATHER THAN N OF THE 5 DME FIX. SHE CONCURRED. IT STILL APPEARED THAT SHE MAY HAVE MEANT TO HOLD US N OF THE 5 DME FIX ON THE 030 DEG RADIAL. THE PROB COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY USING BETTER PHRASEOLOGY. THE PROB WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED IF WE WERE GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS TO HOLD NE OF A SPECIFIC INTXN.

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.