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Flight crew of an medium large transport overshot climb altitude due to confusion regarding ATC clearance and the confirmation of ATC's acknowledgement to the flight crew's altitude readback.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 323240 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199512 |
| Day | Sun |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : orf |
| State Reference | VA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 26000 msl bound upper : 26500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tower : slc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Commercial Fixed Wing |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | climbout : intermediate altitude |
| Route In Use | enroute airway : zdc |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | other other : other pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : flight engineer |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 16000 flight time type : 5500 |
| ASRS Report | 323240 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : commercial |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : overshoot 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:
ZDC frequency 132.22 MHZ had cleared us to climb to FL260 which we were doing. Approaching FL260 I requested FL310 and ZDC told us to 'expect FL310 and maintain FL270.' I confirmed this by reading back 'maintain FL270, expect FL310.' climbing through 26500 ft I wanted the higher altitude (FL310) so I asked ZDC 'air carrier X through FL265 for FL270, looking for FL310.' ZDC respond that we were only cleared to FL250 and were climbing through FL265 but that he had cleared us to 'maintain FL270,' whether he had intended to do this or not. I interrogated the first officer on this immediately after the incident and we both agreed the controller had told us to 'maintain FL270' and that I had read back FL270. Nothing more was mentioned of the confusion.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: FLC OF AN MLG OVERSHOT CLB ALT DUE TO CONFUSION REGARDING ATC CLRNC AND THE CONFIRMATION OF ATC'S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO THE FLC'S ALT READBACK.
Narrative: ZDC FREQ 132.22 MHZ HAD CLRED US TO CLB TO FL260 WHICH WE WERE DOING. APCHING FL260 I REQUESTED FL310 AND ZDC TOLD US TO 'EXPECT FL310 AND MAINTAIN FL270.' I CONFIRMED THIS BY READING BACK 'MAINTAIN FL270, EXPECT FL310.' CLBING THROUGH 26500 FT I WANTED THE HIGHER ALT (FL310) SO I ASKED ZDC 'ACR X THROUGH FL265 FOR FL270, LOOKING FOR FL310.' ZDC RESPOND THAT WE WERE ONLY CLRED TO FL250 AND WERE CLBING THROUGH FL265 BUT THAT HE HAD CLRED US TO 'MAINTAIN FL270,' WHETHER HE HAD INTENDED TO DO THIS OR NOT. I INTERROGATED THE FO ON THIS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE INCIDENT AND WE BOTH AGREED THE CTLR HAD TOLD US TO 'MAINTAIN FL270' AND THAT I HAD READ BACK FL270. NOTHING MORE WAS MENTIONED OF THE CONFUSION.
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.