<< >> NASA ASRS Report 542623, March 2002

C340 pilot descends to originally assigned altitude after receiving a new clearance to a higher altitude not idented as an amended altitude.

Attributes
ACN	542623
Time
Date	200203
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : srq.vortac
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : tpa.tracon tower : ord.tower
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Cessna 340/340A
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : captain
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 2100 flight time type : 130
ASRS Report	542623
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I was flying at 9000 ft. I was given a clearance to be 5000 ft 25 mi north of ft myers. I stayed high at 9000 ft since I was still 75 mi out. Approximately 5 mins later, I was given a clearance for pilot's discretion to descend to 7000 ft. At no time was the word 'amended' or 'amend' used. So I started my descent approximately 65 mi out and continued to 5000 ft, the original clearance which I thought was still valid. After leveling off at 5000 ft, the controller queried my atl and stated that his clearance was only good to 7000 ft. I told him about his previous clearance and he told me his first instructions should have been dismissed after receiving the second instructions. During my flying experience, I receive many times, 'amend altitude' and I comply. Since I didn't hear this, there was no amendment and I had pilot's discretion to 7000 ft and had to be 5000 ft 25 mi north of ft myers. No harm was done, but communication was the factor.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C340 PLT DSNDS TO ORIGINALLY ASSIGNED ALT AFTER RECEIVING A NEW CLRNC TO A HIGHER ALT NOT IDENTED AS AN AMENDED ALT.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING AT 9000 FT. I WAS GIVEN A CLRNC TO BE 5000 FT 25 MI N OF FT MYERS. I STAYED HIGH AT 9000 FT SINCE I WAS STILL 75 MI OUT. APPROX 5 MINS LATER, I WAS GIVEN A CLRNC FOR PLT'S DISCRETION TO DSND TO 7000 FT. AT NO TIME WAS THE WORD 'AMENDED' OR 'AMEND' USED. SO I STARTED MY DSCNT APPROX 65 MI OUT AND CONTINUED TO 5000 FT, THE ORIGINAL CLRNC WHICH I THOUGHT WAS STILL VALID. AFTER LEVELING OFF AT 5000 FT, THE CTLR QUERIED MY ATL AND STATED THAT HIS CLRNC WAS ONLY GOOD TO 7000 FT. I TOLD HIM ABOUT HIS PREVIOUS CLRNC AND HE TOLD ME HIS FIRST INSTRUCTIONS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISMISSED AFTER RECEIVING THE SECOND INSTRUCTIONS. DURING MY FLYING EXPERIENCE, I RECEIVE MANY TIMES, 'AMEND ALT' AND I COMPLY. SINCE I DIDN'T HEAR THIS, THERE WAS NO AMENDMENT AND I HAD PLT'S DISCRETION TO 7000 FT AND HAD TO BE 5000 FT 25 MI N OF FT MYERS. NO HARM WAS DONE, BUT COM WAS THE FACTOR.

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.