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An air carrier flight crew descended 1000 ft below their assigned altitude while on the eau clair 1 STAR to msp.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 326340 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199601 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 0001 To 0600 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : msp |
| State Reference | MN |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 11000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zmp |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng |
| Flight Phase | descent other |
| Route In Use | arrival other arrival star : star |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 9700 |
| ASRS Report | 326340 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : commercial |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : far non adherence : clearance |
| Independent Detector | aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
Received clearance to cross twinz at 11000 ft. I read back 11000 ft and set 11000 ft in the altitude alerter. I then went off frequency to copy ATIS. ATIS was not on the air, presumably a new tape was being made. The first officer began a descent and called for the approach checklist. I ran the checklist and then turned the ATIS back on. I copied the new ATIS. I never heard the altitude alerter chime sound. After copying the ATIS I placed the card on the pedestal and turned my receiver back on. The first officer had been monitoring ATC during this time. When I looked up we had leveled off at 10000 ft. The altitude alert was still set at 11000 ft. I started to question the first officer when the center called and said 'say altitude.' I reported 10000 ft and was instructed to contact approach control. The first officer said he thought the original clearance was to cross twinz at 10000 ft. I'm sure the clearance was to cross at 11000 ft. However, the controller didn't give us any additional instructions after I reported level at 10000 ft. The arrival states 'expect clearance to cross twinz at 10000 ft or 11000 ft.' most other arrs have 1 specific altitude to cross a fix or the altitude is described as dependent on runway in use. I think my first officer misheard the clearance and I was distracted waiting for the new ATIS.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN ACR FLC DSNDED 1000 FT BELOW THEIR ASSIGNED ALT WHILE ON THE EAU CLAIR 1 STAR TO MSP.
Narrative: RECEIVED CLRNC TO CROSS TWINZ AT 11000 FT. I READ BACK 11000 FT AND SET 11000 FT IN THE ALT ALERTER. I THEN WENT OFF FREQ TO COPY ATIS. ATIS WAS NOT ON THE AIR, PRESUMABLY A NEW TAPE WAS BEING MADE. THE FO BEGAN A DSCNT AND CALLED FOR THE APCH CHKLIST. I RAN THE CHKLIST AND THEN TURNED THE ATIS BACK ON. I COPIED THE NEW ATIS. I NEVER HEARD THE ALT ALERTER CHIME SOUND. AFTER COPYING THE ATIS I PLACED THE CARD ON THE PEDESTAL AND TURNED MY RECEIVER BACK ON. THE FO HAD BEEN MONITORING ATC DURING THIS TIME. WHEN I LOOKED UP WE HAD LEVELED OFF AT 10000 FT. THE ALT ALERT WAS STILL SET AT 11000 FT. I STARTED TO QUESTION THE FO WHEN THE CTR CALLED AND SAID 'SAY ALT.' I RPTED 10000 FT AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT APCH CTL. THE FO SAID HE THOUGHT THE ORIGINAL CLRNC WAS TO CROSS TWINZ AT 10000 FT. I'M SURE THE CLRNC WAS TO CROSS AT 11000 FT. HOWEVER, THE CTLR DIDN'T GIVE US ANY ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS AFTER I RPTED LEVEL AT 10000 FT. THE ARR STATES 'EXPECT CLRNC TO CROSS TWINZ AT 10000 FT OR 11000 FT.' MOST OTHER ARRS HAVE 1 SPECIFIC ALT TO CROSS A FIX OR THE ALT IS DESCRIBED AS DEPENDENT ON RWY IN USE. I THINK MY FO MISHEARD THE CLRNC AND I WAS DISTRACTED WAITING FOR THE NEW ATIS.
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.