Narrative:

Approximately 50 NM west of tys when we received descent clearance to cross 20 east of tys at 330 on the shine arrival. As we were initiating descent, ATC gave restriction to cross 5 east of tys at FL370. I read back same, understanding 5 east tys at 370, 20 east tys at FL330. I did not acknowledge maintain FL370! Approximately 10 east of tys at FL355, ATC called us and said maintain 370. The captain responded that we were descending to cross 20 east at 330 but would he like us to climb back to 370. We were given a 360 degree heading and told to maintain FL350. Next clearance was to resume own navigation to intercept the arrival, which we did. Flight then proceeded normally to landing in clt. Contributing factors. Controller workload, confusion on frequency. Change of descent restrictions as aircraft was initiating descent profile. Need to expedite to meet new crossing restriction of southeast at 370. Captain was on company frequency with other distrs (in-flight medical problem, pas in back). When first officer received new descent clearance to cross 5 east tys at 370, captain came back on frequency as first officer was reading back descent clearance. First officer did not acknowledge instructions to maintain FL370 5 east of tys. Understood it to be in addition to previous descent clearance. Flight attendant distrs in cockpit and on intercom trying to deal with pas' medical problem. Workload in cockpit during descent phase of flight with 2 man crew. I think this could have been avoided with a standard descent profile on the shine arrival as well as the controller not waiting so late to change descent clrncs. Supplemental information from acn 96532. Center said clearance to cross 5 east tys at FL370 was to maintain FL370! I responded that that was not our understanding. In summary, I feel we have a procedures problem at tys. This is the 2ND such incident I have personally experienced at tys in as many weeks. Why was the initial clearance 20 east at FL330 ever given in the 1ST place? It seems a more appropriate initial clearance would have been cross 5 east tys at and maintain FL370. Period. I think a standard crossing procedure needs to be established at tys in conjunction with the shine arrival into clt.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR WDB OVERSHOT ALT ON DESCENT.

Narrative: APPROX 50 NM W OF TYS WHEN WE RECEIVED DSCNT CLRNC TO CROSS 20 E OF TYS AT 330 ON THE SHINE ARR. AS WE WERE INITIATING DSCNT, ATC GAVE RESTRICTION TO CROSS 5 E OF TYS AT FL370. I READ BACK SAME, UNDERSTANDING 5 E TYS AT 370, 20 E TYS AT FL330. I DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE MAINTAIN FL370! APPROX 10 E OF TYS AT FL355, ATC CALLED US AND SAID MAINTAIN 370. THE CAPT RESPONDED THAT WE WERE DSNDING TO CROSS 20 E AT 330 BUT WOULD HE LIKE US TO CLB BACK TO 370. WE WERE GIVEN A 360 DEG HDG AND TOLD TO MAINTAIN FL350. NEXT CLRNC WAS TO RESUME OWN NAV TO INTERCEPT THE ARR, WHICH WE DID. FLT THEN PROCEEDED NORMALLY TO LNDG IN CLT. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS. CTLR WORKLOAD, CONFUSION ON FREQ. CHANGE OF DSCNT RESTRICTIONS AS ACFT WAS INITIATING DSCNT PROFILE. NEED TO EXPEDITE TO MEET NEW XING RESTRICTION OF SE AT 370. CAPT WAS ON COMPANY FREQ WITH OTHER DISTRS (INFLT MEDICAL PROB, PAS IN BACK). WHEN F/O RECEIVED NEW DSCNT CLRNC TO CROSS 5 E TYS AT 370, CAPT CAME BACK ON FREQ AS F/O WAS READING BACK DSCNT CLRNC. F/O DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE INSTRUCTIONS TO MAINTAIN FL370 5 E OF TYS. UNDERSTOOD IT TO BE IN ADDITION TO PREVIOUS DSCNT CLRNC. FLT ATTENDANT DISTRS IN COCKPIT AND ON INTERCOM TRYING TO DEAL WITH PAS' MEDICAL PROB. WORKLOAD IN COCKPIT DURING DSCNT PHASE OF FLT WITH 2 MAN CREW. I THINK THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED WITH A STANDARD DSCNT PROFILE ON THE SHINE ARR AS WELL AS THE CTLR NOT WAITING SO LATE TO CHANGE DSCNT CLRNCS. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 96532. CENTER SAID CLRNC TO CROSS 5 E TYS AT FL370 WAS TO MAINTAIN FL370! I RESPONDED THAT THAT WAS NOT OUR UNDERSTANDING. IN SUMMARY, I FEEL WE HAVE A PROCS PROB AT TYS. THIS IS THE 2ND SUCH INCIDENT I HAVE PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED AT TYS IN AS MANY WKS. WHY WAS THE INITIAL CLRNC 20 E AT FL330 EVER GIVEN IN THE 1ST PLACE? IT SEEMS A MORE APPROPRIATE INITIAL CLRNC WOULD HAVE BEEN CROSS 5 E TYS AT AND MAINTAIN FL370. PERIOD. I THINK A STANDARD XING PROC NEEDS TO BE ESTABLISHED AT TYS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SHINE ARR INTO CLT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.