A CL65 flight crew experiences an NMAC with a Navajo beneath them when they overshoot the assigned altitude on approach to PHL, PA.
Synopsis
A CL65 flight crew experiences an NMAC with a Navajo beneath them when they overshoot the assigned altitude on approach to PHL, PA.
Narrative
Rewritten in plain English from NASA’s original all-caps telegraphic report — facts, figures, and terminology preserved.
We were on a trip to PHL. The captain was the pilot flying. The first officer was the pilot not flying. The flight was delayed 1 hour due to flow into PHL.
While on the Dupont 4 arrival, after terrain interaction, we were given vectors, altitude clearance, as well as a 10 knot speed restriction. Both pilots confirmed the altitude. To the best of our recollection it was 6000 feet; the in-range radio call was made at approximately 15 minutes prior to arrival.
At the 10000 feet point, the pilot not flying began to do the in-range below 10000 feet checklist, and a second check of the ATIS, due to the deteriorating weather. When the pilot not flying returned to frequency, the pilot not flying confirmed, 'no changes' and the pilot not flying said 'confirm 6000 feet.' The pilot flying answered, '6000 feet.'
While descending through approximately 7000 feet, ATC issued traffic advisory for traffic, Navajo at 12 o'clock position. The traffic could not be seen as we were between IMC layers. The traffic was identified on TCASII. As the traffic passed below the aircraft, the TCASII gave an amber 'caution' alert. The pilot flying then rolled the descent rate to positive climb rate.
The aircraft was at about 6700 feet at this time and during the transition process, the aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 6500 feet. The TCASII gave an RA 'red' alert. Consecutively with the pilot flying removing the autopilot and initiating an immediate climb, the TCASII gave an aural alert, 'climb.' At that time ATC said, 'the assigned altitude was 7000 feet, climb immediately.' The pilot not flying then responded, '7000 feet.'
Upon reaching 7000 feet, ATC gave us a descent to 6000 feet and vectors for the ILS runway 27R approach. After the approach and landing we were told to copy the phone number and call the tower.
Show the original NASA report (verbatim, telegraphic)
WE WERE ON A TRIP TO PHL. THE CAPT WAS THE PF. THE FO WAS THE PNF. THE FLT WAS DELAYED 1 HR DUE TO FLOW INTO PHL. WHILE ON THE DUPONT 4 ARR; AFTER TERRI INTXN; WE WERE GIVEN VECTORS; ALT CLRNC; AS WELL AS A 10 KT SPD RESTR. BOTH PLTS CONFIRMED THE ALT. TO THE BEST OF OUR RECOLLECTION IT WAS 6000 FT; THE IN-RANGE RADIO CALL WAS MADE AT APPROX 15 MINS PRIOR TO ARR. AT THE 10000 FT POINT; THE PNF BEGAN TO DO THE IN-RANGE BELOW 10000 FT CHKLIST; AND A SECOND CHK OF THE ATIS; DUE TO THE DETERIORATING WX. WHEN THE PNF RETURNED TO FREQ; THE PNF CONFIRMED; 'NO CHANGES' AND THE PNF SAID 'CONFIRM 6000 FT.' THE PF ANSWERED; '6000 FT.' WHILE DSNDING THROUGH APPROX 7000 FT; ATC ISSUED TA FOR TFC; NAVAJO AT 12 O'CLOCK POS. THE TFC COULD NOT BE SEEN AS WE WERE BTWN IMC LAYERS. THE TFC WAS IDENTED ON TCASII. AS THE TFC PASSED BELOW THE ACFT; THE TCASII GAVE AN AMBER 'CAUTION' ALERT. THE PF THEN ROLLED THE DSCNT RATE TO POSITIVE CLB RATE. THE ACFT WAS AT ABOUT 6700 FT AT THIS TIME AND DURING THE TRANSITION PROCESS; THE ACFT REACHED AN ALT OF APPROX 6500 FT. THE TCASII GAVE AN RA 'RED' ALERT. CONSECUTIVELY WITH THE PF REMOVING THE AUTOPLT AND INITIATING AN IMMEDIATE CLB; THE TCASII GAVE AN AURAL ALERT; 'CLB.' AT THAT TIME ATC SAID; 'THE ASSIGNED ALT WAS 7000 FT; CLB IMMEDIATELY.' THE PNF THEN RESPONDED; '7000 FT.' UPON REACHING 7000 FT; ATC GAVE US A DSCNT TO 6000 FT AND VECTORS FOR THE ILS RWY 27R APCH. AFTER THE APCH AND LNDG WE WERE TOLD TO COPY THE PHONE NUMBER AND CALL THE TWR.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.