Flight crew of large transport descend without clearance on buntr arrival to phx.

Attributes
ACN	616668
Time
Date	200405
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : slidr
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl single value : 27000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab.artcc tower : den.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival star : buntr
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	616668
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Airport ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Flight operating to phx. Prior clearance was 'cleared direct zuni maintain FL310.' we were given frequency change (ZAB) 132.9. Next controller said cleared 'direct slider intersection' (BUNTR1). We loaded buntr 1 arrival in FMS. We were asked to maintain best forward speed and cross slider intersection at FL290. Just prior to slider intersection controller said 'cleared direct slider, after slider cleared direct homrr intersection, resume buntr 1 arrival.' homrr intersection has an 'expect to cross at 12000 ft 250 KTS' note. We programmed that restr in the FMS. We had been flying this arrival all week and were always given the 12000 ft 250 KTS restr at homrr. Passing slider intersection we were 'high' on the profile to make the planned 12000 ft 250 KTS, especially since we were told to maintain maximum forward speed! The airplane started its descent (from FL290). Passing FL270 ZAB said 'air carrier X say altitude.' we replied passing FL270 for 1-2 thousand. Controller said 'who gave you clearance to descend?' I replied we were cleared via the STAR. Both the captain and I realized our mistake at that time. Controller said 'level off at FL240, I'll have lower for you shortly.' we asked if there was a problem. Controller replied no, but there could have been. Controller said abq is working on getting the wording changed on the buntr 1 arrival. Controller said this happens a lot. Flying this arrival all week and getting the same clearance caused us to get complacent.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF LGT DSND WITHOUT CLRNC ON BUNTR ARR TO PHX.

Narrative: FLT OPERATING TO PHX. PRIOR CLRNC WAS 'CLRED DIRECT ZUNI MAINTAIN FL310.' WE WERE GIVEN FREQ CHANGE (ZAB) 132.9. NEXT CTLR SAID CLRED 'DIRECT SLIDER INTXN' (BUNTR1). WE LOADED BUNTR 1 ARR IN FMS. WE WERE ASKED TO MAINTAIN BEST FORWARD SPD AND CROSS SLIDER INTXN AT FL290. JUST PRIOR TO SLIDER INTXN CTLR SAID 'CLRED DIRECT SLIDER, AFTER SLIDER CLRED DIRECT HOMRR INTXN, RESUME BUNTR 1 ARR.' HOMRR INTXN HAS AN 'EXPECT TO CROSS AT 12000 FT 250 KTS' NOTE. WE PROGRAMMED THAT RESTR IN THE FMS. WE HAD BEEN FLYING THIS ARR ALL WK AND WERE ALWAYS GIVEN THE 12000 FT 250 KTS RESTR AT HOMRR. PASSING SLIDER INTXN WE WERE 'HIGH' ON THE PROFILE TO MAKE THE PLANNED 12000 FT 250 KTS, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE WERE TOLD TO MAINTAIN MAX FORWARD SPD! THE AIRPLANE STARTED ITS DSCNT (FROM FL290). PASSING FL270 ZAB SAID 'ACR X SAY ALT.' WE REPLIED PASSING FL270 FOR 1-2 THOUSAND. CTLR SAID 'WHO GAVE YOU CLRNC TO DSND?' I REPLIED WE WERE CLRED VIA THE STAR. BOTH THE CAPT AND I REALIZED OUR MISTAKE AT THAT TIME. CTLR SAID 'LEVEL OFF AT FL240, I'LL HAVE LOWER FOR YOU SHORTLY.' WE ASKED IF THERE WAS A PROB. CTLR REPLIED NO, BUT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN. CTLR SAID ABQ IS WORKING ON GETTING THE WORDING CHANGED ON THE BUNTR 1 ARR. CTLR SAID THIS HAPPENS A LOT. FLYING THIS ARR ALL WK AND GETTING THE SAME CLRNC CAUSED US TO GET COMPLACENT.

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.