 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
Pilot of a C501SP deviating around thunderstorms fails to clarify his descent clearance.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 411700 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199808 |
| Day | Sun |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : 52a |
| State Reference | GA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 16000 msl bound upper : 20000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | Mixed |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : ztl |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Citation I/SP |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | descent other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 106 flight time total : 19000 flight time type : 1900 |
| ASRS Report | 411700 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : unable |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | other |
Narrative:
Departed 55J for 52A in CE501SP. Due to lots of thunderstorm activity and high traffic area (atlanta) and very busy controller due to deviations I could not get lower altitude. I was at 24000 ft at about 20 mi from destination. I remember getting 20000 ft and started down at about 3000 FPM. I was hand flying and dodging WX cells. I had set 11000 ft in altitude alerter -- don't know why. Think I was on 127.5 or 124.45. He gave me frequency change and I switched over and reported out of 16000 ft. He gave me lower and cleared to orbit down for visual approach. No comment on altitude from anyone. Still not sure if I goofed or actually had clearance below 20000 ft. Pay attention and concentrate on what I'm doing. Don't get side-tracked by WX or other things. If I have trouble remembering -- write it down. Verify with ATC. It was a terrible day. Thankful I didn't make it tragic.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PLT OF A C501SP DEVIATING AROUND TSTMS FAILS TO CLARIFY HIS DSCNT CLRNC.
Narrative: DEPARTED 55J FOR 52A IN CE501SP. DUE TO LOTS OF TSTM ACTIVITY AND HIGH TFC AREA (ATLANTA) AND VERY BUSY CTLR DUE TO DEVS I COULD NOT GET LOWER ALT. I WAS AT 24000 FT AT ABOUT 20 MI FROM DEST. I REMEMBER GETTING 20000 FT AND STARTED DOWN AT ABOUT 3000 FPM. I WAS HAND FLYING AND DODGING WX CELLS. I HAD SET 11000 FT IN ALT ALERTER -- DON'T KNOW WHY. THINK I WAS ON 127.5 OR 124.45. HE GAVE ME FREQ CHANGE AND I SWITCHED OVER AND RPTED OUT OF 16000 FT. HE GAVE ME LOWER AND CLRED TO ORBIT DOWN FOR VISUAL APCH. NO COMMENT ON ALT FROM ANYONE. STILL NOT SURE IF I GOOFED OR ACTUALLY HAD CLRNC BELOW 20000 FT. PAY ATTN AND CONCENTRATE ON WHAT I'M DOING. DON'T GET SIDE-TRACKED BY WX OR OTHER THINGS. IF I HAVE TROUBLE REMEMBERING -- WRITE IT DOWN. VERIFY WITH ATC. IT WAS A TERRIBLE DAY. THANKFUL I DIDN'T MAKE IT TRAGIC.
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.