Narrative:

We were given instructions to hold at lindy intersection, as published at FL200. At this time the captain asked me to inform company of the hold via our ACARS. While I did this, he entered the hold at FL210. He reported entering hold at FL210 but ATC did not catch the mistake either. When I finished ACARS report I noticed the problem. We informed ATC and descended to FL200. ATC did not seem too concerned. Destination airport (jfk) WX was bad, but traffic was moving smoothly until holding instructions were given only a few mi from lindy. The captain had only 7 months experience on the DC9 and had expressed some concerns with going into a large unfamiliar airport like jfk. Also, the autoplt had a mild tendency to go off heading (5 degrees at most). No other aircraft were involved, but this is a great example of how little things can add up to causing a big problem.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DC9-30 ENTERS A HOLDING PATTERN AT LINDY INTXN, NY, AT FL210 INSTEAD OF THE ASSIGNED FL200, ALL IN ZNY AIRSPACE.

Narrative: WE WERE GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS TO HOLD AT LINDY INTXN, AS PUBLISHED AT FL200. AT THIS TIME THE CAPT ASKED ME TO INFORM COMPANY OF THE HOLD VIA OUR ACARS. WHILE I DID THIS, HE ENTERED THE HOLD AT FL210. HE RPTED ENTERING HOLD AT FL210 BUT ATC DID NOT CATCH THE MISTAKE EITHER. WHEN I FINISHED ACARS RPT I NOTICED THE PROB. WE INFORMED ATC AND DSNDED TO FL200. ATC DID NOT SEEM TOO CONCERNED. DEST ARPT (JFK) WX WAS BAD, BUT TFC WAS MOVING SMOOTHLY UNTIL HOLDING INSTRUCTIONS WERE GIVEN ONLY A FEW MI FROM LINDY. THE CAPT HAD ONLY 7 MONTHS EXPERIENCE ON THE DC9 AND HAD EXPRESSED SOME CONCERNS WITH GOING INTO A LARGE UNFAMILIAR ARPT LIKE JFK. ALSO, THE AUTOPLT HAD A MILD TENDENCY TO GO OFF HDG (5 DEGS AT MOST). NO OTHER ACFT WERE INVOLVED, BUT THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW LITTLE THINGS CAN ADD UP TO CAUSING A BIG PROB.

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.