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A B727 flying in a holding pattern in bos, ma, airspace receives a clearance to descend to a lower altitude but misunderstands when the descent should take place.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 379609 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199709 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : pvd |
| State Reference | RI |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 13000 msl bound upper : 14000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : bos |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | other |
| Route In Use | arrival other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 2800 |
| ASRS Report | 379609 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 5800 flight time type : 210 |
| ASRS Report | 380057 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | other |
Narrative:
We were established in published holding over pvd (norwich 2 arrival). We were at 14000 ft MSL and turning inbound when the controller stated he wanted us to 'descend to 13000 ft on the outbound leg.' since we were turning inbound, we took this to mean descend to 13000 ft after passing pvd and going outbound, so we stayed at FL190. The controller, however, told us to 'turn to 280 degree heading and descend immediately to 13000 ft for traffic' coming in to holding. I feel the controller in his initial instruction should not have said 'descend on the outbound leg.' if he wanted an immediate descent, he could have simply said 'descend now to 13000 ft.'
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A B727 FLYING IN A HOLDING PATTERN IN BOS, MA, AIRSPACE RECEIVES A CLRNC TO DSND TO A LOWER ALT BUT MISUNDERSTANDS WHEN THE DSCNT SHOULD TAKE PLACE.
Narrative: WE WERE ESTABLISHED IN PUBLISHED HOLDING OVER PVD (NORWICH 2 ARR). WE WERE AT 14000 FT MSL AND TURNING INBOUND WHEN THE CTLR STATED HE WANTED US TO 'DSND TO 13000 FT ON THE OUTBOUND LEG.' SINCE WE WERE TURNING INBOUND, WE TOOK THIS TO MEAN DSND TO 13000 FT AFTER PASSING PVD AND GOING OUTBOUND, SO WE STAYED AT FL190. THE CTLR, HOWEVER, TOLD US TO 'TURN TO 280 DEG HDG AND DSND IMMEDIATELY TO 13000 FT FOR TFC' COMING IN TO HOLDING. I FEEL THE CTLR IN HIS INITIAL INSTRUCTION SHOULD NOT HAVE SAID 'DSND ON THE OUTBOUND LEG.' IF HE WANTED AN IMMEDIATE DSCNT, HE COULD HAVE SIMPLY SAID 'DSND NOW TO 13000 FT.'
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.