<< >> NASA ASRS Report 512282, May 2001

ZDC controller questions B732 flight crew's assigned altitude, then turns aircraft to resolve potential conflict with another aircraft at same altitude.

Attributes
ACN	512282
Time
Date	200105
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : iso.vortac
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28000 msl bound upper : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc artcc : zbw.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 270 flight time total : 6400 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	512282
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 140 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	511428
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory controller : issued new clearance controller : separated traffic
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

ZDC cleared us to FL290. Captain set FL290 in the altitude alert window. First officer read back FL290, pointed to the altitude alert window, repeated FL290. We were level at FL290 for a considerable amount of time. ZDC asked us to verify FL280. Response, negative FL290. He gave us a turn to 090 degrees and air carrier X a turn to 270 degrees, then within 30 seconds a turn on course. ZDC insisted he gave us FL280, stating we must have taken someone else's clearance. He also advised us that no conflict occurred. Remainder of flight operated under no anomalies.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZDC CTLR QUESTIONS B732 FLC'S ASSIGNED ALT, THEN TURNS ACFT TO RESOLVE POTENTIAL CONFLICT WITH ANOTHER ACFT AT SAME ALT.

Narrative: ZDC CLRED US TO FL290. CAPT SET FL290 IN THE ALT ALERT WINDOW. FO READ BACK FL290, POINTED TO THE ALT ALERT WINDOW, REPEATED FL290. WE WERE LEVEL AT FL290 FOR A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. ZDC ASKED US TO VERIFY FL280. RESPONSE, NEGATIVE FL290. HE GAVE US A TURN TO 090 DEGS AND ACR X A TURN TO 270 DEGS, THEN WITHIN 30 SECONDS A TURN ON COURSE. ZDC INSISTED HE GAVE US FL280, STATING WE MUST HAVE TAKEN SOMEONE ELSE'S CLRNC. HE ALSO ADVISED US THAT NO CONFLICT OCCURRED. REMAINDER OF FLT OPERATED UNDER NO ANOMALIES.

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.