B737-700
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 186
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory
Human Factors
We were initially cleared to 11;000 FT MSL. Holding short of the runway; Tower cleared us for takeoff and said to maintain 3;000 FT. We read it back and set the altitude. This is where the disconnect happened. Airport elevation is 2;885 FT. Tower may have said 13;000 FT; but we set and read back 3;000 FT. On departure; we got an altitude alert. I asked what altitude he gave us. The First Officer started to level and I told him to keep climbing as I told the Tower we need higher. The Tower cleared us to 7;000 FT. When the First Officer leveled off; we sank a little and got a sink warning. It was all one fluid motion from climb to level to sink to climb then flap retraction. Approximate location: Just off departure end or runway. Departure: I really still can't understand how we messed this up. What were we thinking when we were cleared to 3;000 FT? Maybe 3;000 FT AGL? I believe it was lack of communication between us and the Tower.
Initially cleared to 7;000 FT. Just before takeoff; Tower clearance amended to right turn heading 330; maintain 3;000 FT. (note: the TDZE is 2;825 FT). Read back as stated. On climb out and in the right turn; approaching 4;000 FT; the pilot not flying reminded me of the 3;000 FT altitude set in the window and the flashing/altitude alert. I leveled and began a slow descent. The pilot not flying said to keep going up. The don't sink GPWS sounded and I immediately resumed the climb. Tower then gave climb and maintain 7;000 FT. The flight continued without further incident.
B737-700 flight crew; immediately after take-off; began an erroneous level-off 175 FT above airport elevation and received GPWS warning.