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First officer reports two instances of the captain intentionally ignoring the mandatory 3000 ft MSL crossing at asalt on the VOR 13L approach at jfk.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 803791 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200807 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | intersection : asalt |
| State Reference | NY |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 2700 msl bound upper : 2800 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : n90.tracon |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Medium Large Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | other vortac |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Route In Use | approach : instrument non precision |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 1500 |
| ASRS Report | 803791 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : published procedure |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Chart Or Publication Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
Narrative:
Knowingly and intentionally descending below a mandatory altitude at asalt on the VOR 13L approach to jfk. There were 2 separate instances of this altitude bust. Jul/xa/08: VOR 13L approach at jfk. Captain was the PF. Day VFR visibility unrestr. With plenty of time; the aircraft was configured with flaps 1 degree and assigned a speed of 180 KTS at 3000 ft. About 1/2 mi prior to the fix asalt; the captain selects (pulls) 'vertical speed' and selects 800 ft down. I rechk the approach chart and notice the mandatory (in capital font) crossing altitude of asalt is 3000 ft. I observe 2800 ft on the altimeter crossing asalt -- 200 ft below the mandatory altitude. I look over at the captain to see if he was distraction and continue my observation pilot duties expecting to be enlightened by the time we reach the next fix. We land uneventfully. Nothing was discussed or explained. Jul/xb/08: captain was the PF. The set-up was a carbon copy of the day earlier. Same approach 3000 ft stable VFR cavok. About 1/2 mi prior to the fix asalt; the captain pulls vertical speed and selects a descent rate. The aircraft crossed asalt 2700 ft (300 ft below the mandatory altitude). I look directly at the captain and ask; 'why do you do that?' 'why do you knowingly and willingly bust that mandatory altitude?' he looked back; but did not respond. I was shocked and amazed; but did not persist as this was a critical phase of flight. We landed uneventfully. The captain never responded to my question.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: FO REPORTS TWO INSTANCES OF THE CAPTAIN INTENTIONALLY IGNORING THE MANDATORY 3000 FT MSL CROSSING AT ASALT ON THE VOR 13L APCH AT JFK.
Narrative: KNOWINGLY AND INTENTIONALLY DSNDING BELOW A MANDATORY ALT AT ASALT ON THE VOR 13L APCH TO JFK. THERE WERE 2 SEPARATE INSTANCES OF THIS ALT BUST. JUL/XA/08: VOR 13L APCH AT JFK. CAPT WAS THE PF. DAY VFR VISIBILITY UNRESTR. WITH PLENTY OF TIME; THE ACFT WAS CONFIGURED WITH FLAPS 1 DEG AND ASSIGNED A SPD OF 180 KTS AT 3000 FT. ABOUT 1/2 MI PRIOR TO THE FIX ASALT; THE CAPT SELECTS (PULLS) 'VERT SPD' AND SELECTS 800 FT DOWN. I RECHK THE APCH CHART AND NOTICE THE MANDATORY (IN CAPITAL FONT) XING ALT OF ASALT IS 3000 FT. I OBSERVE 2800 FT ON THE ALTIMETER XING ASALT -- 200 FT BELOW THE MANDATORY ALT. I LOOK OVER AT THE CAPT TO SEE IF HE WAS DISTR AND CONTINUE MY OBSERVATION PLT DUTIES EXPECTING TO BE ENLIGHTENED BY THE TIME WE REACH THE NEXT FIX. WE LAND UNEVENTFULLY. NOTHING WAS DISCUSSED OR EXPLAINED. JUL/XB/08: CAPT WAS THE PF. THE SET-UP WAS A CARBON COPY OF THE DAY EARLIER. SAME APCH 3000 FT STABLE VFR CAVOK. ABOUT 1/2 MI PRIOR TO THE FIX ASALT; THE CAPT PULLS VERT SPD AND SELECTS A DSCNT RATE. THE ACFT CROSSED ASALT 2700 FT (300 FT BELOW THE MANDATORY ALT). I LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE CAPT AND ASK; 'WHY DO YOU DO THAT?' 'WHY DO YOU KNOWINGLY AND WILLINGLY BUST THAT MANDATORY ALT?' HE LOOKED BACK; BUT DID NOT RESPOND. I WAS SHOCKED AND AMAZED; BUT DID NOT PERSIST AS THIS WAS A CRITICAL PHASE OF FLT. WE LANDED UNEVENTFULLY. THE CAPT NEVER RESPONDED TO MY QUESTION.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.