 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
S80 flight crew are unable to confirm descent clearance with mmex controller due to lack of english proficiency and descend below intended altitude.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 571044 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200301 |
| Day | Thu |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : mmex.artcc |
| State Reference | FO |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 19000 msl bound upper : 20000 |
| Environment | |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : mmex.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | MD-80 Super 80 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | other |
| Flight Phase | descent : intermediate altitude |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| ASRS Report | 571044 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued advisory flight crew : returned to assigned altitude |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Environmental Factor Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
| Situations | |
| ATC Facility | procedure or policy : mmex.artcc |
Narrative:
En route to mexico city on J21 at FL310, we received our descent clearance. After 6 or 8 requests for clarification, I ultimately read back 'descend now to FL200 and cross 10 mi north of pachuca VOR at 10 mi.' the controller confirmed this and gave us a handoff. As we descended through FL190, I commented to the first officer, who was flying, that the MEA was 13000. At this same time, the new controller asked us to confirm our clearance, and that we were to have stopped at FL200. We returned to FL200 and continued without further incident. The first officer agreed that he was certain, as am I, that the controller confirmed 10000 ft. I believe that part of the problem was the controller's poor mastery of the english language, and that when we asked for clarification, he would give just one word instead of repeating the entire clearance -- so we had to piece the clearance together. Also, he apparently did not pay attention to my readback.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: S80 FLC ARE UNABLE TO CONFIRM DSCNT CLRNC WITH MMEX CTLR DUE TO LACK OF ENGLISH PROFICIENCY AND DSND BELOW INTENDED ALT.
Narrative: ENRTE TO MEXICO CITY ON J21 AT FL310, WE RECEIVED OUR DSCNT CLRNC. AFTER 6 OR 8 REQUESTS FOR CLARIFICATION, I ULTIMATELY READ BACK 'DSND NOW TO FL200 AND CROSS 10 MI N OF PACHUCA VOR AT 10 MI.' THE CTLR CONFIRMED THIS AND GAVE US A HDOF. AS WE DSNDED THROUGH FL190, I COMMENTED TO THE FO, WHO WAS FLYING, THAT THE MEA WAS 13000. AT THIS SAME TIME, THE NEW CTLR ASKED US TO CONFIRM OUR CLRNC, AND THAT WE WERE TO HAVE STOPPED AT FL200. WE RETURNED TO FL200 AND CONTINUED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE FO AGREED THAT HE WAS CERTAIN, AS AM I, THAT THE CTLR CONFIRMED 10000 FT. I BELIEVE THAT PART OF THE PROB WAS THE CTLR'S POOR MASTERY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, AND THAT WHEN WE ASKED FOR CLARIFICATION, HE WOULD GIVE JUST ONE WORD INSTEAD OF REPEATING THE ENTIRE CLRNC -- SO WE HAD TO PIECE THE CLRNC TOGETHER. ALSO, HE APPARENTLY DID NOT PAY ATTN TO MY READBACK.
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.