LR35 ACFT ON SID DEP; PF; CAPT WAS DISTR BY A PAX QUESTION JUST AS ATC ISSUED A CLRNC. FO MISUNDERSTOOD CLRNC AND TOLD CAPT ERRONEOUS ALT INFO; BUT CAPT QUESTIONED IT SO HAD HIM CONFIRM WITH ATC WHO REPEATED THE ALT RESTR AS ACFT WAS ALREADY PAST IT.

Date: 1997-09 · Aircraft: Learjet 35

Anomalies: deviation-altitude-overshoot|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-published-material-policy|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-clearance|other-unspecified

Synopsis

LR35 ACFT ON SID DEP; PF; CAPT WAS DISTR BY A PAX QUESTION JUST AS ATC ISSUED A CLRNC. FO MISUNDERSTOOD CLRNC AND TOLD CAPT ERRONEOUS ALT INFO; BUT CAPT QUESTIONED IT SO HAD HIM CONFIRM WITH ATC WHO REPEATED THE ALT RESTR AS ACFT WAS ALREADY PAST IT.

Narrative

FLYING THE LOUPE 9 DEP FROM SJC; WE WERE ON THE 120 DEG HDG SEGMENT AT 5000 FT. BAY DEP CLRED US TO CLB TO 12000 FT. A PAX CAME FORWARD AND DISTR US WITH A QUESTION; AND I TOLD HIM 'WE ARE BUSY I'LL GET BACK TO YOU WHEN I CAN.' BAY DEP GAVE US ANOTHER CLRNC WHICH I MISSED BECAUSE OF THE DISTR. THE COPLT SAID WE ARE CLRED DIRECT TO THE SJC VOR CLB TO FL230. I REPEATED CLRED TO THE VOR; CLB TO FL230. COPLT SAYS 'THAT'S CORRECT.' I THEN ASKED HIM 'WAS THERE SOMETHING IN THAT CLRNC ABOUT THE VOR AT 12000 FT AS I HAD JUST BRIEFED ON THE DEP BRIEFING.' HE SAID 'NO; WE ARE CLRED TO FL230.' I SAID 'CALL HIM BACK AND CONFIRM IT.' AT THIS POINT WE ARE CLBING IN EXCESS OF 4000 FPM. I PULLED THE PWR BACK TO WAIT FOR THE CONFIRMATION ON THE CLRNC BUT WENT SAILING THROUGH 12000 FT UP TO 12600 FT JUST TO HEAR THE CTLR SAY 'NO; CROSS THE VOR AT 12000 FT' THEN CLB TO FL230' AT WHICH POINT I SCURRIED BACK DOWN TO 12000 FT. I SHOULD HAVE REACTED FASTER TO MY INITIAL FEELING NOT TO GET ABOVE 12000 FT UNTIL IT WAS CONFIRMED. ALTHOUGH I GOT THE DISTR TAKEN CARE OF QUICKLY; IT WAS JUST ENOUGH OF A DISTR THAT I MISSED A CLRNC. THE COPLT WAS MORE CONCERNED WITH PROGRAMMING THE FMS TO THE SJC VOR THAN RECONFIRMING THE CLRNC. I HAVE ALWAYS FELT THIS SID SHOULD BE REVISED AS IT IS COMPLICATED AND NOT USER FRIENDLY TO SOMEONE NOT USING IT ON A DAILY BASIS. THIS PROC ALSO PROMOTES A TOTALLY HEADS DOWN PROC IN A HIGH TFC DENSITY AREA; WHERE FREQS ARE ALWAYS CONGESTED AND CTLRS ALWAYS BUSY.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.