<< >> NASA ASRS Report 454103, November 1999

A B737 captain, descending for rdu, was cleared by the initial approach controller to 6000 ft. Upon contacting the second controller, the captain was told to return to his assigned altitude of 8000 ft. The captain responded and, at 7700 ft, he was reclred to descend to 6000 ft.

Attributes
ACN	454103
Time
Date	199911
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : rdu.airport
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 600 msl bound upper : 7700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : rdu.tracon tower : azo.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 247 flight time total : 19200 flight time type : 12500
ASRS Report	454103
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to original clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

On descent into rdu, we were given vector and descent to 6000 ft on arrival from first approach controller. (Both pilots concur on clearance.) we were then given a handoff to second controller and reported level at 6000 ft. He then stated we should be at 8000 ft and instructed us to climb to 8000 ft. At 7700 ft MSL, we were then given 6000 ft again. No other traffic observed, visually, or on TCASII. Landing was then accomplished and no other comments on altitude were made. There seems to be lack of attention from ATC on readbacks of clrncs since the change in FAA policy on responsibility. We both need to ensure communication is accurate.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737 CAPT, DSNDING FOR RDU, WAS CLRED BY THE INITIAL APCH CTLR TO 6000 FT. UPON CONTACTING THE SECOND CTLR, THE CAPT WAS TOLD TO RETURN TO HIS ASSIGNED ALT OF 8000 FT. THE CAPT RESPONDED AND, AT 7700 FT, HE WAS RECLRED TO DSND TO 6000 FT.

Narrative: ON DSCNT INTO RDU, WE WERE GIVEN VECTOR AND DSCNT TO 6000 FT ON ARR FROM FIRST APCH CTLR. (BOTH PLTS CONCUR ON CLRNC.) WE WERE THEN GIVEN A HDOF TO SECOND CTLR AND RPTED LEVEL AT 6000 FT. HE THEN STATED WE SHOULD BE AT 8000 FT AND INSTRUCTED US TO CLB TO 8000 FT. AT 7700 FT MSL, WE WERE THEN GIVEN 6000 FT AGAIN. NO OTHER TFC OBSERVED, VISUALLY, OR ON TCASII. LNDG WAS THEN ACCOMPLISHED AND NO OTHER COMMENTS ON ALT WERE MADE. THERE SEEMS TO BE LACK OF ATTN FROM ATC ON READBACKS OF CLRNCS SINCE THE CHANGE IN FAA POLICY ON RESPONSIBILITY. WE BOTH NEED TO ENSURE COM IS ACCURATE.

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.