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An air carrier turboprop leaves its assigned altitude after a clearance readback but is challenged by center controller for doing so.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 437900 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199905 |
| Day | Sun |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | intersection : antex |
| State Reference | FO |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 6000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Weather Elements | Thunderstorm |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : mdsd.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Commercial Fixed Wing |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Route In Use | approach : instrument non precision enroute : direct |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : multi engine pilot : atp pilot : cfi |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 1350 |
| ASRS Report | 437900 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued advisory none taken : detected after the fact |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance Weather Environmental Factor ATC Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
Approaching antex, ZSU handed us to santo domingo center, at this time approximately 7 NM from antex deviating to the north for WX. On initial contact we heard 'direct to punta cana, descend 4000 ft, reaching VOR cleared VOR 9 approach.' this is what I read back. At about 10 NM from punta cana, santo domingo questioned our altitude. We were now approaching 4000 ft and said we were not cleared to descend until reaching antex. Since we were deviating for WX, we were not navigating to antex, so even if this was the clearance it would not have been possible. The factors I see contributing to this are the language problems talking to santo domingo center and also they don't seem to pay any attention to your readback -- be it right or wrong.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN ACR TURBOPROP LEAVES ITS ASSIGNED ALT AFTER A CLRNC READBACK BUT IS CHALLENGED BY CTR CTLR FOR DOING SO.
Narrative: APCHING ANTEX, ZSU HANDED US TO SANTO DOMINGO CTR, AT THIS TIME APPROX 7 NM FROM ANTEX DEVIATING TO THE N FOR WX. ON INITIAL CONTACT WE HEARD 'DIRECT TO PUNTA CANA, DSND 4000 FT, REACHING VOR CLRED VOR 9 APCH.' THIS IS WHAT I READ BACK. AT ABOUT 10 NM FROM PUNTA CANA, SANTO DOMINGO QUESTIONED OUR ALT. WE WERE NOW APCHING 4000 FT AND SAID WE WERE NOT CLRED TO DSND UNTIL REACHING ANTEX. SINCE WE WERE DEVIATING FOR WX, WE WERE NOT NAVING TO ANTEX, SO EVEN IF THIS WAS THE CLRNC IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE. THE FACTORS I SEE CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ARE THE LANGUAGE PROBS TALKING TO SANTO DOMINGO CTR AND ALSO THEY DON'T SEEM TO PAY ANY ATTN TO YOUR READBACK -- BE IT RIGHT OR WRONG.
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.