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Captain of a widebody transport started descending from cruise altitude prior to clearance. First officer noticed and captain returned to assigned just prior to ATC altitude inquiry.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 360740 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199702 |
| Day | Sat |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : mje |
| State Reference | FO |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 36500 msl bound upper : 37000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : rjtg tower : frg |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Commercial Fixed Wing |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | Other |
| Flight Phase | cruise other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 2900 flight time type : 1300 |
| ASRS Report | 360740 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance |
| Independent Detector | other controllera other flight crewa |
| 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:
Flight was en route sin-nrt, near top of descent. Tokyo control advised, 'traffic at 12 O'clock, opposite direction, FL350.' I responded, 'roger, looking.' (note: no reference to FL350 in my response.) after looking for traffic (and finding none), I then proceeded to review ATIS and get out my approach plates. Unknown to me, the captain had commenced a gradual descent, which I noticed as my altimeter passed FL365. I immediately advised the captain that we had not been cleared for descent. He immediately added power and climbed back to FL370. Tokyo control called soon thereafter to verify our altitude and advised us to maintain FL370. Remainder of flight was normal.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: CAPT OF A WDB STARTED DSNDING FROM CRUISE ALT PRIOR TO CLRNC. FO NOTICED AND CAPT RETURNED TO ASSIGNED JUST PRIOR TO ATC ALT INQUIRY.
Narrative: FLT WAS ENRTE SIN-NRT, NEAR TOP OF DSCNT. TOKYO CTL ADVISED, 'TFC AT 12 O'CLOCK, OPPOSITE DIRECTION, FL350.' I RESPONDED, 'ROGER, LOOKING.' (NOTE: NO REF TO FL350 IN MY RESPONSE.) AFTER LOOKING FOR TFC (AND FINDING NONE), I THEN PROCEEDED TO REVIEW ATIS AND GET OUT MY APCH PLATES. UNKNOWN TO ME, THE CAPT HAD COMMENCED A GRADUAL DSCNT, WHICH I NOTICED AS MY ALTIMETER PASSED FL365. I IMMEDIATELY ADVISED THE CAPT THAT WE HAD NOT BEEN CLRED FOR DSCNT. HE IMMEDIATELY ADDED PWR AND CLBED BACK TO FL370. TOKYO CTL CALLED SOON THEREAFTER TO VERIFY OUR ALT AND ADVISED US TO MAINTAIN FL370. REMAINDER OF FLT WAS NORMAL.
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.