<< >> NASA ASRS Report 601962, April 2003

B727 cargo crew descending to 11000 ft, leveled off at FL200 to talk with company about a reroute. After talking with company, they continued descent.

Attributes
ACN	601962
Time
Date	200304
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : vhp.vortac
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl single value : 20000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 98 flight time total : 11440 flight time type : 5998
ASRS Report	601962
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar/mode c other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

During discretionary descent to 11000 ft, company called (through ATC). We contacted company and were informed of possible reroute. We advised center that we would like to stop at FL200 for a few mins. ATC approved. As we continued toward ind, I monitored so communication with company. It was decided to continue to ind. At this time, first officer began a descent to 11000 ft. Center asked what we were doing and we reported out of FL200 for 11000 ft. We weren't sure if center wanted to know of our divert plans or if the discretion to 11000 ft was forgotten, or no longer valid. We thought we still had discretion, but should have queried center to be sure.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727 CARGO CREW DSNDING TO 11000 FT, LEVELED OFF AT FL200 TO TALK WITH COMPANY ABOUT A REROUTE. AFTER TALKING WITH COMPANY, THEY CONTINUED DSCNT.

Narrative: DURING DISCRETIONARY DSCNT TO 11000 FT, COMPANY CALLED (THROUGH ATC). WE CONTACTED COMPANY AND WERE INFORMED OF POSSIBLE REROUTE. WE ADVISED CTR THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO STOP AT FL200 FOR A FEW MINS. ATC APPROVED. AS WE CONTINUED TOWARD IND, I MONITORED SO COM WITH COMPANY. IT WAS DECIDED TO CONTINUE TO IND. AT THIS TIME, FO BEGAN A DSCNT TO 11000 FT. CTR ASKED WHAT WE WERE DOING AND WE RPTED OUT OF FL200 FOR 11000 FT. WE WEREN'T SURE IF CTR WANTED TO KNOW OF OUR DIVERT PLANS OR IF THE DISCRETION TO 11000 FT WAS FORGOTTEN, OR NO LONGER VALID. WE THOUGHT WE STILL HAD DISCRETION, BUT SHOULD HAVE QUERIED CTR TO BE SURE.

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.