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Pilot deviation when flight crew misread the STAR and started a descent for an expected altitude crossing.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 373529 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199707 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : ogd |
| State Reference | UT |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 26200 msl bound upper : 27000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zlc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B737-200 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | Other |
| Flight Phase | cruise other descent other |
| Route In Use | arrival other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar pilot : private |
| Experience | controller non radar : 9 controller radar : 7 flight time total : 60 |
| ASRS Report | 373529 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 4000 |
| ASRS Report | 373944 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
| Situations | |
| Publication | Unspecified |
Narrative:
Aircraft #1 was descending to FL270 and cleared via the BEARR2 arrival. Mode C indicated that the aircraft was descending lower than FL270 so I asked the aircraft what their altitude was. The response was 'leaving FL262 for 15000 ft, we were cleared on the BEARR2 arrival.' I then advised the aircraft that the assigned altitude was FL270. He stated that he was only complying with what was published. (Only altitudes that are on the charts are expect altitudes.) this seems to be a reoccurring problem, especially on this arrival. It is only a matter of time before an aircraft will descend at the wrong time and cause a loss of separation. Supplemental information from acn 373944: 'cleared BEARR2 arrival landing south' the STAR reads expect 15000 ft at bearr. I put 15000 ft in the MCP and figured my descent point and left FL270 for 15000 ft. The cause of the problem was I didn't read the STAR correctly. The box at bearr is an expect altitude not a hard altitude.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PLTDEV WHEN FLC MISREAD THE STAR AND STARTED A DSCNT FOR AN EXPECTED ALT XING.
Narrative: ACFT #1 WAS DSNDING TO FL270 AND CLRED VIA THE BEARR2 ARR. MODE C INDICATED THAT THE ACFT WAS DSNDING LOWER THAN FL270 SO I ASKED THE ACFT WHAT THEIR ALT WAS. THE RESPONSE WAS 'LEAVING FL262 FOR 15000 FT, WE WERE CLRED ON THE BEARR2 ARR.' I THEN ADVISED THE ACFT THAT THE ASSIGNED ALT WAS FL270. HE STATED THAT HE WAS ONLY COMPLYING WITH WHAT WAS PUBLISHED. (ONLY ALTS THAT ARE ON THE CHARTS ARE EXPECT ALTS.) THIS SEEMS TO BE A REOCCURRING PROB, ESPECIALLY ON THIS ARR. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE AN ACFT WILL DSND AT THE WRONG TIME AND CAUSE A LOSS OF SEPARATION. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 373944: 'CLRED BEARR2 ARR LNDG S' THE STAR READS EXPECT 15000 FT AT BEARR. I PUT 15000 FT IN THE MCP AND FIGURED MY DSCNT POINT AND LEFT FL270 FOR 15000 FT. THE CAUSE OF THE PROB WAS I DIDN'T READ THE STAR CORRECTLY. THE BOX AT BEARR IS AN EXPECT ALT NOT A HARD ALT.
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.