 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
An S80 flight crew is challenged by ZFW controller when they left FL310 for 14000 ft, allegedly responding to a wrong call sign 40 mi southwest of fsm, ar.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 486990 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200010 |
| Day | Sun |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| State Reference | AR |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 30000 msl bound upper : 31000 |
| Environment | |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zfw.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | MD-80 Super 80 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | descent : vacating altitude |
| Route In Use | arrival star : ns |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zfw.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Commercial Fixed Wing |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Route In Use | arrival star : ns |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument |
| ASRS Report | 486990 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain flight crew : first officer oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| ASRS Report | 487287 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance controller : issued advisory |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Airspace Structure ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance Environmental Factor |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
ZFW gave us (flight bbfh) a descent from FL310 to FL240. As we were passing FL300 in the descent, he asked us if we were still at FL310. He leveled us at FL290. There was also a company flight gfh on frequency. We had heard and read back the clearance so we thought we were correct to comply. There was either a call sign error with ZFW or with us. Supplemental information from acn 487287: as we went through FL300, the controller asked us to confirm that we were at FL310. He then descended to 14000 ft. A few mins later, we were then given a descent to 15000 ft and then later to 14000 ft. I believe he meant to start air carrier flight gfh down, but gave the clearance to us. They are similar sounding call signs, sort of.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN S80 FLC IS CHALLENGED BY ZFW CTLR WHEN THEY LEFT FL310 FOR 14000 FT, ALLEGEDLY RESPONDING TO A WRONG CALL SIGN 40 MI SW OF FSM, AR.
Narrative: ZFW GAVE US (FLT BBFH) A DSCNT FROM FL310 TO FL240. AS WE WERE PASSING FL300 IN THE DSCNT, HE ASKED US IF WE WERE STILL AT FL310. HE LEVELED US AT FL290. THERE WAS ALSO A COMPANY FLT GFH ON FREQ. WE HAD HEARD AND READ BACK THE CLRNC SO WE THOUGHT WE WERE CORRECT TO COMPLY. THERE WAS EITHER A CALL SIGN ERROR WITH ZFW OR WITH US. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 487287: AS WE WENT THROUGH FL300, THE CTLR ASKED US TO CONFIRM THAT WE WERE AT FL310. HE THEN DSNDED TO 14000 FT. A FEW MINS LATER, WE WERE THEN GIVEN A DSCNT TO 15000 FT AND THEN LATER TO 14000 FT. I BELIEVE HE MEANT TO START ACR FLT GFH DOWN, BUT GAVE THE CLRNC TO US. THEY ARE SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGNS, SORT OF.
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.