Narrative:

Air carrier X commenced over-the-station passage, sie, northbound on J121. Aircraft was cleared to descend. At first indication of sie station passage, aircraft initiated a turn to intercept the 059 degree radial outbound north J121. ZDC (frequency 133.12) controller stated, 'air carrier X, you overshot airway by 4 mi. Level at FL260 and turn right to 090 degrees.' air carrier X complied with instructions. 090 degree heading took aircraft through (to southeast of) J121. ZDC (133.12) then directed air carrier X 'turn left 030 degrees, intercept J121, descend to FL210.' air carrier X complied and began descent. While passing FL220, ZDC amended leveloff altitude to FL220 due to traffic at FL210. Air carrier X notified ATC we were passing FL220, but would climb back to that newly amended altitude. Aircraft descent arrested at FL216, then climbed up to FL220. ATC then reclred air carrier X to FL210, which was complied with. Synopsis: air carrier X commenced over-station-intercept in the usual manner and angle of bank that is accomplished in a B737-200-a aircraft. It is unknown why ZDC reported aircraft position 4 mi off airway, since cockpit indications still showed position in sie cone of confusion. Additionally, the leveloff at amended altitude assignment of FL220 was not given in a timely enough fashion to comply with.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF A B737-200 ON DSCNT MISSES VORTAC FIX BY 4 MI ACCORDING TO ARTCC CTLR WHO SUBSEQUENTLY LEVELED ACFT OFF FOR SEPARATION WITH TFC BELOW.

Narrative: ACR X COMMENCED OVER-THE-STATION PASSAGE, SIE, NBOUND ON J121. ACFT WAS CLRED TO DSND. AT FIRST INDICATION OF SIE STATION PASSAGE, ACFT INITIATED A TURN TO INTERCEPT THE 059 DEG RADIAL OUTBOUND N J121. ZDC (FREQ 133.12) CTLR STATED, 'ACR X, YOU OVERSHOT AIRWAY BY 4 MI. LEVEL AT FL260 AND TURN R TO 090 DEGS.' ACR X COMPLIED WITH INSTRUCTIONS. 090 DEG HDG TOOK ACFT THROUGH (TO SE OF) J121. ZDC (133.12) THEN DIRECTED ACR X 'TURN L 030 DEGS, INTERCEPT J121, DSND TO FL210.' ACR X COMPLIED AND BEGAN DSCNT. WHILE PASSING FL220, ZDC AMENDED LEVELOFF ALT TO FL220 DUE TO TFC AT FL210. ACR X NOTIFIED ATC WE WERE PASSING FL220, BUT WOULD CLB BACK TO THAT NEWLY AMENDED ALT. ACFT DSCNT ARRESTED AT FL216, THEN CLBED UP TO FL220. ATC THEN RECLRED ACR X TO FL210, WHICH WAS COMPLIED WITH. SYNOPSIS: ACR X COMMENCED OVER-STATION-INTERCEPT IN THE USUAL MANNER AND ANGLE OF BANK THAT IS ACCOMPLISHED IN A B737-200-A ACFT. IT IS UNKNOWN WHY ZDC RPTED ACFT POS 4 MI OFF AIRWAY, SINCE COCKPIT INDICATIONS STILL SHOWED POS IN SIE CONE OF CONFUSION. ADDITIONALLY, THE LEVELOFF AT AMENDED ALT ASSIGNMENT OF FL220 WAS NOT GIVEN IN A TIMELY ENOUGH FASHION TO COMPLY WITH.

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.