B773, vicinity Houston TX USA, 2014

B773, vicinity Houston TX USA, 2014

Summary

On 3 July 2014, a Boeing 777-300 departing Houston came within 200 feet vertically and 0.61nm laterally of another aircraft after climbing significantly above the Standard Instrument Departure Procedure (SID) stop altitude of 4,000 feet believing clearance was to FL310. The crew responded to ATC avoiding action to descend and then disregarded TCAS 'CLIMB' and subsequently LEVEL OFF RAs which followed. The Investigation found that an inadequate departure brief, inadequate monitoring by the augmented crew and poor communication with ATC had preceded the SID non-compliance and that the crew should have followed the TCAS RAs issued.

Description

On 3 July 2014, a Boeing 777-300 (9V-SWH) being operated by Singapore Airlines on a scheduled passenger flight from Houston to Moscow Domodedovo as flight SQ61 with an augmented flight crewcame into conflict with another aircraft after exceeding its Departure Procedure (SID) stop altitude of 4,000 feet on departure from Houston in day IMC. An ATC descent instruction and TCAS RA annunciations followed. The minimum recorded separation achieved was 200 feet vertically and 0.61nm laterally.

Investigation

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) did not investigate the event because it was "regarded as a pilot deviation from an ATC clearance" but the Singapore AAIB "regarded the occurrence as being significant enough to merit a report to highlight the safety lessons". It was acknowledged that the factual information available consisted primarily of inputs from the NTSB, the FAA and the Operator.

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