<< >> NASA ASRS Report 506870, April 2001

A320 captain acknowledges and incorrectly reads back descent altitude change inbound to cmh as first officer is obtaining ATIS. Although ZID misses initial readback error, they observe altitude overshoot and challenge flight crew.

Attributes
ACN	506870
Time
Date	200104
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cmh.airport
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bwi.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 9500 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	506870
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I went off of primary communications to get destination ATIS for approach and landing. 2 crew aircraft. PF was advised that I was leaving for ATIS. He was flying the aircraft and working the radios. At the same time, crossing restr was given without the benefit of both crew members to verify an altitude was misinterped and set. (Note: PF read back altitude, but ATC did not catch that the readback was 8000 ft versus 11000 ft -- that was the correct altitude.) once I returned, the PF briefed me of the crossing restr of 8000 ft. At 10000 ft, ATC asked us what altitude we were at and we promptly climbed back to 11000 ft after he advised that we were at the wrong altitude.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 CAPT ACKNOWLEDGES AND INCORRECTLY READS BACK DSCNT ALT CHANGE INBOUND TO CMH AS FO IS OBTAINING ATIS. ALTHOUGH ZID MISSES INITIAL READBACK ERROR, THEY OBSERVE ALT OVERSHOOT AND CHALLENGE FLT CREW.

Narrative: I WENT OFF OF PRIMARY COMS TO GET DEST ATIS FOR APCH AND LNDG. 2 CREW ACFT. PF WAS ADVISED THAT I WAS LEAVING FOR ATIS. HE WAS FLYING THE ACFT AND WORKING THE RADIOS. AT THE SAME TIME, XING RESTR WAS GIVEN WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF BOTH CREW MEMBERS TO VERIFY AN ALT WAS MISINTERPED AND SET. (NOTE: PF READ BACK ALT, BUT ATC DID NOT CATCH THAT THE READBACK WAS 8000 FT VERSUS 11000 FT -- THAT WAS THE CORRECT ALT.) ONCE I RETURNED, THE PF BRIEFED ME OF THE XING RESTR OF 8000 FT. AT 10000 FT, ATC ASKED US WHAT ALT WE WERE AT AND WE PROMPTLY CLBED BACK TO 11000 FT AFTER HE ADVISED THAT WE WERE AT THE WRONG ALT.

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.