A B727 crew starts a descent for FL240 when cleared to turn to 240 degree heading when 130 mi east o...

Attributes
ACN	481500
Time
Date	200008
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mem.airport
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 24000 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Route In Use	arrival star : holly
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	481500
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 1440
ASRS Report	481511
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to assigned altitude flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Environmental Factor Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Approximately 130 NM east of mem at FL310 on holly 1 STAR, center called and the first couple words were weak. We understood ATC to say descend to FL240 and slow 20 KTS. The PNF replied to ATC, 'leaving FL310 for FL240 and slowing 20 KTS.' about 45 seconds later ATC asked us our altitude. We replied passing FL300 for FL240. ATC said they wanted us to turn to 240 degree heading and maintain FL310. In retrospect, we should have questioned the initial radio call and ATC should have caught our erred readback for the descent. Additionally, we were given the 240 degree heading in the same vicinity of a normal descent to FL240 (ie, a direct to FL240 is usually given at that position). Supplemental information from acn 481511: the captain was talking to center and copilot was flying. Captain asked the copilot if center said to descend to FL240 and he said 'yes.' so the captain called back, 'xyz out of FL310 for FL240 and slowing 20 KTS.' in retrospect, the captain should have queried ATC on his initial radio call. Additionally, ATC should have caught our readback as being in error until we stated that we were departing FL310 for FL240. A little static on the radio led to a misunderstanding.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B727 CREW STARTS A DSCNT FOR FL240 WHEN CLRED TO TURN TO 240 DEG HDG WHEN 130 MI E OF MEM, TN.

Narrative: APPROX 130 NM E OF MEM AT FL310 ON HOLLY 1 STAR, CTR CALLED AND THE FIRST COUPLE WORDS WERE WEAK. WE UNDERSTOOD ATC TO SAY DSND TO FL240 AND SLOW 20 KTS. THE PNF REPLIED TO ATC, 'LEAVING FL310 FOR FL240 AND SLOWING 20 KTS.' ABOUT 45 SECONDS LATER ATC ASKED US OUR ALT. WE REPLIED PASSING FL300 FOR FL240. ATC SAID THEY WANTED US TO TURN TO 240 DEG HDG AND MAINTAIN FL310. IN RETROSPECT, WE SHOULD HAVE QUESTIONED THE INITIAL RADIO CALL AND ATC SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT OUR ERRED READBACK FOR THE DSCNT. ADDITIONALLY, WE WERE GIVEN THE 240 DEG HDG IN THE SAME VICINITY OF A NORMAL DSCNT TO FL240 (IE, A DIRECT TO FL240 IS USUALLY GIVEN AT THAT POS). SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 481511: THE CAPT WAS TALKING TO CTR AND COPLT WAS FLYING. CAPT ASKED THE COPLT IF CTR SAID TO DSND TO FL240 AND HE SAID 'YES.' SO THE CAPT CALLED BACK, 'XYZ OUT OF FL310 FOR FL240 AND SLOWING 20 KTS.' IN RETROSPECT, THE CAPT SHOULD HAVE QUERIED ATC ON HIS INITIAL RADIO CALL. ADDITIONALLY, ATC SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT OUR READBACK AS BEING IN ERROR UNTIL WE STATED THAT WE WERE DEPARTING FL310 FOR FL240. A LITTLE STATIC ON THE RADIO LED TO A MISUNDERSTANDING.

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.

A B727 crew starts a descent for FL240 when cleared to turn to 240 degree heading when 130 mi east of mem, tn.