<< >> NASA ASRS Report 527160, October 2001

ATC issues a new cleared altitude, a TA and frequency change all in the same transmission. The wrong altitude is read back, not caught and the climb is continued above the cleared altitude until reminded by ATC of the proper altitude.

Attributes
ACN	527160
Time
Date	200110
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : rbv.vortac
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 30000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sct.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A300
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 850
ASRS Report	527160
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance
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:

Departed jfk en route sfo, step climbing per ATC toward filed cruise altitude of FL310. Had been level at FL230. ATC issued traffic altitude and frequency change. I was distracted by traffic call and did not verify with first officer or ATC about the new 'climb to' altitude, which was FL290. However, FL310 was read back. At FL311 ATC asked what altitude we were climbing to. We responded FL310. He (ATC) told us to maintain FL290. We descended to FL290 and were later reclred to FL310. There was no immediate conflict. ATC advised that there was no problem. Cause: multiple advisories/clrncs. Perceived wrong way for altitude (FL290 wbound). My failure to verify a clearance. Resolution: simplify instructions. Always verify.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC ISSUES A NEW CLRED ALT, A TA AND FREQ CHANGE ALL IN THE SAME XMISSION. THE WRONG ALT IS READ BACK, NOT CAUGHT AND THE CLB IS CONTINUED ABOVE THE CLRED ALT UNTIL REMINDED BY ATC OF THE PROPER ALT.

Narrative: DEPARTED JFK ENRTE SFO, STEP CLBING PER ATC TOWARD FILED CRUISE ALT OF FL310. HAD BEEN LEVEL AT FL230. ATC ISSUED TFC ALT AND FREQ CHANGE. I WAS DISTRACTED BY TFC CALL AND DID NOT VERIFY WITH FO OR ATC ABOUT THE NEW 'CLB TO' ALT, WHICH WAS FL290. HOWEVER, FL310 WAS READ BACK. AT FL311 ATC ASKED WHAT ALT WE WERE CLBING TO. WE RESPONDED FL310. HE (ATC) TOLD US TO MAINTAIN FL290. WE DSNDED TO FL290 AND WERE LATER RECLRED TO FL310. THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE CONFLICT. ATC ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NO PROB. CAUSE: MULTIPLE ADVISORIES/CLRNCS. PERCEIVED WRONG WAY FOR ALT (FL290 WBOUND). MY FAILURE TO VERIFY A CLRNC. RESOLUTION: SIMPLIFY INSTRUCTIONS. ALWAYS VERIFY.

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.