<< >> NASA ASRS Report 327610, February 1996

Mistook clearance to 11000 ft as 10000 ft. ATC intervened when aircraft was 600 ft below 11000 ft. Controller reported no conflicts.

Attributes
ACN	327610
Time
Date	199602
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : etx
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10400 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny tracon : fay
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 1300
ASRS Report	327610
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 175 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 4200
ASRS Report	328098
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance 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:

I was flying and the captain was making a PA announcement. I received a descent from nyc on (135.75) to 10000 ft. I thought this was odd since the STAR has 'mazie' at 11000 ft. I believe I read back 10000 ft. Later nyc informed us the altitude was 11000 ft, this was at 10400 ft. We corrected back to 11000 ft without incident. The controller reported no conflicts. I believe the 10000 ft PA announcement to passenger and flight attendants is unsafe and usually occurs when we are busy. A switch with light as a 'sterile cockpit' signal would be safer.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MISTOOK CLRNC TO 11000 FT AS 10000 FT. ATC INTERVENED WHEN ACFT WAS 600 FT BELOW 11000 FT. CTLR RPTED NO CONFLICTS.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING AND THE CAPT WAS MAKING A PA ANNOUNCEMENT. I RECEIVED A DSCNT FROM NYC ON (135.75) TO 10000 FT. I THOUGHT THIS WAS ODD SINCE THE STAR HAS 'MAZIE' AT 11000 FT. I BELIEVE I READ BACK 10000 FT. LATER NYC INFORMED US THE ALT WAS 11000 FT, THIS WAS AT 10400 FT. WE CORRECTED BACK TO 11000 FT WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE CTLR RPTED NO CONFLICTS. I BELIEVE THE 10000 FT PA ANNOUNCEMENT TO PAX AND FLT ATTENDANTS IS UNSAFE AND USUALLY OCCURS WHEN WE ARE BUSY. A SWITCH WITH LIGHT AS A 'STERILE COCKPIT' SIGNAL WOULD BE SAFER.

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.