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The flight crew both heard they were cleared from FL330 to FL370. The controller says the flight was only cleared to FL330. The flight crew had climbed to FL335 when the controller told them to return to FL330.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 325050 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199601 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : sea |
| State Reference | WA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 33500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zse |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | Other Other |
| Flight Phase | climbout : intermediate altitude |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 170 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 11000 |
| ASRS Report | 325050 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 9000 |
| ASRS Report | 325044 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other |
| Consequence | faa : reviewed incident with flight crew |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation other |
Narrative:
Climbing through approximately 26000 ft (FL260) to assigned altitude of FL330 we requested FL370 for final. ATC responded with 'climb and maintain FL370,' which I read back. In accordance with company procedures, both first officer and myself pointed to altitude of 37000 ft, I set in flight guidance and verbally confirmed the clearance. Then climbing through FL335 ATC asked our altitude and I said 33500 ft for FL370. He said to descend back to FL330 for traffic at 20 NM, FL350. As we descended, he said our clearance was to FL330. He asked if we were requesting FL370 and I responded yes. After traffic passed we were cleared to FL370. There appeared to be no conflict but obviously there was a misunderstanding of the clearance.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: THE FLC BOTH HEARD THEY WERE CLRED FROM FL330 TO FL370. THE CTLR SAYS THE FLT WAS ONLY CLRED TO FL330. THE FLC HAD CLBED TO FL335 WHEN THE CTLR TOLD THEM TO RETURN TO FL330.
Narrative: CLBING THROUGH APPROX 26000 FT (FL260) TO ASSIGNED ALT OF FL330 WE REQUESTED FL370 FOR FINAL. ATC RESPONDED WITH 'CLB AND MAINTAIN FL370,' WHICH I READ BACK. IN ACCORDANCE WITH COMPANY PROCS, BOTH FO AND MYSELF POINTED TO ALT OF 37000 FT, I SET IN FLT GUIDANCE AND VERBALLY CONFIRMED THE CLRNC. THEN CLBING THROUGH FL335 ATC ASKED OUR ALT AND I SAID 33500 FT FOR FL370. HE SAID TO DSND BACK TO FL330 FOR TFC AT 20 NM, FL350. AS WE DSNDED, HE SAID OUR CLRNC WAS TO FL330. HE ASKED IF WE WERE REQUESTING FL370 AND I RESPONDED YES. AFTER TFC PASSED WE WERE CLRED TO FL370. THERE APPEARED TO BE NO CONFLICT BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS A MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE CLRNC.
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.