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by Jim Timm

 

These pilot deviations need to be examined to determine if a common thread exists that we should address to help reduce the number of deviations that occur and enhance aviation safety.

In the time period from July 15 through August 11 there were seventeen pilot deviations recorded by the FAA SDL FSDO. These deviations were committed by all pilot certificate levels, from student to ATP, and of the seventeen deviations made, there was a need to issue six Brashers. This month there were four out of state pilots committing pilot deviations. The number of deviations were up a bit from the last reporting period.

Note, a controller will issue a Brasher notification when further FAA action will be taken, and the controller is thus giving the airman the opportunity to make note of the occurrence, and collect their thoughts for their future interaction with Flight Standards.

Pay attention to ATC instructions and follow them, and if you can’t comply, tell ATC why you can’t. Just don’t do something without advising them, and always be aware of what type of airspace you are flying in, or may be about to enter, and what may be expected of you. Always fly with care and forethought.

The details of the deviations this month are as follows:

 

IFR DEVIATIONS

7/10     IFR Altitude Deviation

ATP/CFI Pilot

From New Mexico

Albuquerque Center Airspace

The aircraft was cleared to climb and maintain 11,000 feet. A replay of the flight shows that the aircraft stopped it’s climb at 9,300 feet, and then descended to 9,100 feet.  The aircraft then remained at 9,100 feet for almost 2 minutes before the Albuquerque controller turned the aircraft to a 325 degree heading, to avoid a 9,700 foot Minimum IFR Altitude (MIA) area. The aircraft had stopped it’s climb without advising ATC, and this unauthorized maneuver resulted in the aircraft violating a 9,700 MIA area. The event occurred near Carefree, AZ.  A Brasher was not issued. The pilot told ATC that he had leveled off due to a high oil temperature alert, and that he was trying to bring the temperature down at a lower altitude.

 

7/15 IFR Route Deviation

ATP Pilot

Los Angeles Center Airspace

The aircraft had filed LIDAT - J92 then BLD. After LIDAT, the aircraft proceeded off course, and did not join J92 as filed. This course deviation caused the aircraft to violate the 3NM protected restricted area of R4807A. ATC issued immediate vectors to remove the aircraft from the restricted area.

 

8/1 IFR Altitude Deviation

ATP/CFI Pilot

From Illinois

Albuquerque Center Airspace

At 1446z, the Albuquerque Center Controller cleared the aircraft to climb to, and maintain FL390, then amended the altitude clearance to FL370.  The aircraft read back the FL370 clearance correctly.  At 1450z the controller observed the aircraft above the assigned altitude, and reissued the FL370 limitation.  The aircraft had made an unauthorized climb to 37,500 feet, which resulted in a loss of separation with another aircraft, who was level at FL380. The event occurred near Winslow, AZ.

 

8/8 IFR Altitude Deviation

Commercial/CFI Pilot

Albuquerque Center Airspace

At 1929z an Albuquerque Center Controller cleared the aircraft to climb to and maintain 14,000 feet. The aircraft read back the clearance correctly.  At 1933z the controller observed the aircraft above 14,000 feet, and reissued an altimeter setting. The aircraft then requested a block altitude of 14,000 through 16,000, which the controller issued. The aircraft made an unauthorized climb to 14,500 feet before getting the block altitude clearance.  At 1936z, the aircraft had made an unauthorized climb to 16,600 feet before requesting a higher altitude from the controller, stating he had climbed to avoid weather.  The controller then cleared the aircraft to FL180.  At 1939z, the aircraft had made an unauthorized climb to 18,500 feet before requesting a higher altitude. The event occurred near Phoenix, and a Brasher issued at 1946z.

 

CLASS BRAVO AIRSPACE DEVIATION

7/15 Entering Class Bravo Airspace Without Obtaining Prior Approval

Private Pilot

Phoenix TRACON

The pilot deviation was reported by the Phoenix TRACON when the aircraft climbed into the Phoenix Class B Airspace without authorization.  The aircraft's climb into the Class B Airspace resulted in a TCAS Alert and a loss of separation with another aircraft. The location was near Chandler, and a Brasher was issued.

 

CLASS DELTA AIRSPACE DEVIATIONS

7/18 Entering Class Delta Airspace Without First Establishing Communication

Commercial Pilot

Chandler Tower

The aircraft had entered the Chandler Class Delta Airspace at 2,600 coming from the north flying southbound. The tower attempted to communicate with the aircraft without success. The aircraft then received flight following with the Phoenix TRACON, and the Chandler Tower requested the TRACON to issue a Brasher to the aircraft. No other aircraft were effected by the intrusion.

 

7/31 Entering Class Delta Airspace Without First Establishing Communication

ATP Pilot

Chandler Tower

The Chandler Tower reported a LSA aircraft flew through their Class Delta Airspace without first establishing communication. 

 

7/31 Entering Class Delta Airspace Without First Establishing Communication

ATP/CFI Pilot

From Oregon

Deer Valley Tower

The aircraft entered the Deer Valley Class Delta Airspace without establishing two way radio communications. There was no loss of separation.

 

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL INSTRUCTIONS

7/26 Failure to follow the Air Traffic Control Instructions.

Private Pilot

Mesa Falcon Field (FFZ)

The aircraft was northeast bound, and inbound for left traffic on RWY 22L.  When the aircraft was 2 NM east of the airport, the ATC South Controller assigned him a left turn for the left base leg.  Moments later the Controller issued revised instructions for the aircraft to "extend downwind, Tower will call base, change to RWY 22R" and the Controller switched him to the North Controller.  The aircraft did not return to the downwind as requested, but proceeded northbound, crossing the finals of both runways.  The aircraft’s northbound path of flight converged with another aircraft’s straight in approach to RWY 22L. The South Controller observed the conflict and issued traffic to the aircraft on final to RWY 22L, then seconds later climbed him to 3,000 feet.  The North Controller also observed the conflict and made several attempts (in the blind) to turn the offending aircraft right and issued him a Traffic Alert, with no reply.  As the two aircraft passed, the closest proximity was:  0.1 NM and 0 feet vertical.

 

7/31 Failure to follow the Air Traffic Control Instructions.

Private Pilot

Goodyear (GYR)

An experimental aircraft was given instructions to overfly Phoenix International Raceway (PIR), a VFR reporting point approximately 4 miles southeast of GYR, inbound for left traffic for RWY21. The experimental aircraft failed to overfly PIR, but turned early two miles north of PIR, to enter the GYR Class Delta Airspace resulting in the experimental, and another VFR aircraft to be in close proximity to one another, requiring a traffic alert to be issued by the Tower Controller. After instructing the experimental aircraft to remain outside of the GYR Class Delta Airspace, the Tower Controller resequenced the experimental to overfly PIR inbound, and to follow another aircraft inbound for left traffic for RWY 21. The experimental failed to enter left traffic, and with increased speed created a traffic conflict with the aircraft they were to follow, again requiring a traffic alert to be issued by the Controller, and required issuing instructions to avoid a collision.

 

MOVEMENT AREA DEVIATION

7/16 Moving In A Movement Area Without Authorization

Private Pilot

Chandler (CHD)

The aircraft entered Taxiways Alpha and Delta without ATC authorization. The aircraft had taxied via Taxiways Alpha and Delta to the run-up area of Runway 4L. The Local Control (LC) asked the pilot to verify that they did not receive taxi instructions to the runway, and the pilot confirmed that they did not. LC issued a Brasher warning. 

 

RUNWAY INCURSIONS

7/10 Entering a runway without ATC authorization.

Student Pilot

Mesa Falcon Field  (FFZ)

The Piper had crossed the Runway 4R hold short line without ATC authorization. The Controller asked the Piper if they were ready. The Piper responded affirmative, and the Controller issued a takeoff clearance for Runway 4R. The Controller then asked the Piper if they were number one or two, and the pilot responded two. The Controller canceled the takeoff clearance, and instructed the Piper to hold short of Runway 4R. The Controller issued a takeoff clearance to another aircraft and again instructed the Piper to hold short of Runway 4R. The Piper read back the hold short instruction but had crossed the hold line by approximately 15 feet. The Controller issued a go around to traffic on final to avoid a loss of separation. The Piper asked if he was to Line Up And Wait? The Controller responded negative, but issued instructions to taxi down the runway, and to parking, and a Brasher warning was issued.

 

7/20 Entering a runway without ATC authorization.

Private Pilot

Phoenix Deer Valley  (DVT)

The pilot deviation was reported by the Deer Valley Tower when the aircraft crossed the Hold Short Line of Runway 25L without ATC authorization.

 

7/28 Entering a runway without ATC authorization.

Pilot Not Involved

Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX)

A U.S. Customs vehicle crossed Runway 7L, and Runway 7R without ATC authorization.

 

7/30 Entering a runway without ATC authorization.

Student Pilot

Mesa Falcon Field  (FFZ)

A Piper crossed Runway 22L without ATC authorization. The Piper called the Controller and advised they were holding short of Runway 22L on Taxiway Alpha. The Controller advised the Piper there would be 2 more arrivals, and then they would get them going. The Controller issued exit instructions to a Cessna that had just landed Runway 22L. The Cessna read back the instructions, however, there was another unreadable transmission. The Controller reached out to see who had made the unreadable transmission. The Piper began crossing Runway 22L on Taxiway Alpha. The Controller issued a go around to a Beechcraft inside a 1/4 mile final, and the go around was initiated prior to the threshold.

 

7/30 Entering a runway without ATC authorization.

Private Pilot

From Colorado

Phoenix Deer Valley  (DVT)

The pilot deviation was reported by the Deer Valley Tower when the aircraft crossed the Hold Short Line of Runway 25L without ATC authorization. 

 

8/2 Entering a runway without ATC authorization.

Commercial/CFI Pilot

Phoenix Deer Valley  (DVT)

The aircraft taxied to, and crossed Runway 25L without ATC authorization. The aircraft had called on the Ground Control (GC) frequency requesting taxi instructions. When GC attempted to contact the aircraft they got no response. The aircraft taxied out on Taxiway Delta eastbound to Taxiway Charlie 11. The aircraft broadcast on the tower frequency as if they were on CTAF, and that they were crossing Runway 25L. The Tower Controller attempted to contact the aircraft but got no response. The aircraft crossed Runway 25L on Taxiway Charlie 11 to Taxiway Bravo 11. GC reached out for an Airport Vehicle, and was able to get one to intercept the aircraft on Taxiway Bravo 11. The aircraft did not enter Runway 25R. The aircraft contacted GC and was given the Brasher warning. The pilot advised that their volume had been turned down. No other traffic was involved.

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