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Altitude excursion occurs when a DC9-30 flight crew accepts the descent clearance issued to another flight in their area 54 NM northwest of dtw, mi.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 544957 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200204 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : dtw.airport |
| State Reference | MI |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 16300 msl bound upper : 17000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Weather Elements | Thunderstorm Rain |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zob.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | DC-9 30 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | descent : intermediate altitude |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 27000 flight time type : 12000 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance non adherence : company policies non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued alert flight crew : returned to assigned altitude |
| Consequence | faa : reviewed incident with flight crew |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance Airspace Structure Environmental Factor |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
As PNF, I had just completed descent flow and was making a cabin PA when center called. I discontinued the PA, but the first officer (PF) answered the call and read back a descent clearance from 17000 ft to 12000 ft using full call sign. He pointed to the altitude alert (12000 ft) and I verified per SOP. At 16300 ft in the descent, center said 'say your altitude.' I stated 17000 ft for 12000 ft. Center replied 'that was for another aircraft, climb back to 17000 ft.' observed no TCASII conflict. No separation was lost. Factors: 1) I was on the PA and thinking about late arrs. 2) controller was very busy due to WX over polar arrival and was vectoring and recoordinating for traffic over cetus. 3) we (first officer) were deviating around moderate thunderstorms in the descent. 4) I was also thinking about possible holds or divert due to WX northwest of dtw, moving very rapidly to the southeast. I am certain we read back the full clearance, but ATC was too busy to hear the error, or the readback was blocked.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ALT EXCURSION OCCURS WHEN A DC9-30 FLC ACCEPTS THE DSCNT CLRNC ISSUED TO ANOTHER FLT IN THEIR AREA 54 NM NW OF DTW, MI.
Narrative: AS PNF, I HAD JUST COMPLETED DSCNT FLOW AND WAS MAKING A CABIN PA WHEN CTR CALLED. I DISCONTINUED THE PA, BUT THE FO (PF) ANSWERED THE CALL AND READ BACK A DSCNT CLRNC FROM 17000 FT TO 12000 FT USING FULL CALL SIGN. HE POINTED TO THE ALT ALERT (12000 FT) AND I VERIFIED PER SOP. AT 16300 FT IN THE DSCNT, CTR SAID 'SAY YOUR ALT.' I STATED 17000 FT FOR 12000 FT. CTR REPLIED 'THAT WAS FOR ANOTHER ACFT, CLB BACK TO 17000 FT.' OBSERVED NO TCASII CONFLICT. NO SEPARATION WAS LOST. FACTORS: 1) I WAS ON THE PA AND THINKING ABOUT LATE ARRS. 2) CTLR WAS VERY BUSY DUE TO WX OVER POLAR ARR AND WAS VECTORING AND RECOORDINATING FOR TFC OVER CETUS. 3) WE (FO) WERE DEVIATING AROUND MODERATE TSTMS IN THE DSCNT. 4) I WAS ALSO THINKING ABOUT POSSIBLE HOLDS OR DIVERT DUE TO WX NW OF DTW, MOVING VERY RAPIDLY TO THE SE. I AM CERTAIN WE READ BACK THE FULL CLRNC, BUT ATC WAS TOO BUSY TO HEAR THE ERROR, OR THE READBACK WAS BLOCKED.
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.