Confused clearance from TRACON and ARTCC.

Attributes
ACN	104452
Time
Date	198902
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mob
State Reference	AL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mob artcc : zny
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : direct enroute airway : zhu
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 7700 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	104452
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation

Narrative:

We departed mob runway 32 in an medium large transport with clearance to 5000' MSL. After checking in with mob departure control on frequency 121.0 from tower, passing 4200', departure control cleared air carrier to '1-7000'.' I read back the clearance to 17000'. On passing through 10500', departure control handed us off to ZHU frequency 128.75. I called ZHU passing 11000' at xa zulu. I stated, 'ZHU air carrier abc with you, 11000' for 17000'.' she then stated, 'where did you get the 17000' clearance from?' I stated from mob departure control. She then stated we were only cleared to 14000'. At this time, we were passing 12000'. Her clearance was not violated. ZHU then called mob departure, mob departure claimed the clearance was for 10000'. We read back and acknowledged 17000', clear to both us pilots at the time. ZHU then stated there was no traffic conflict, and no problem. She then cleared us to FL230. We believe we did nothing wrong and that we read back the stated clearance of 17000'. It is strange that ZHU believed clearance was 14000', and mob center claimed it was 10000' when questioned later.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CONFUSED CLRNC FROM TRACON AND ARTCC.

Narrative: WE DEPARTED MOB RWY 32 IN AN MLG WITH CLRNC TO 5000' MSL. AFTER CHKING IN WITH MOB DEP CTL ON FREQ 121.0 FROM TWR, PASSING 4200', DEP CTL CLRED ACR TO '1-7000'.' I READ BACK THE CLRNC TO 17000'. ON PASSING THROUGH 10500', DEP CTL HANDED US OFF TO ZHU FREQ 128.75. I CALLED ZHU PASSING 11000' AT XA ZULU. I STATED, 'ZHU ACR ABC WITH YOU, 11000' FOR 17000'.' SHE THEN STATED, 'WHERE DID YOU GET THE 17000' CLRNC FROM?' I STATED FROM MOB DEP CTL. SHE THEN STATED WE WERE ONLY CLRED TO 14000'. AT THIS TIME, WE WERE PASSING 12000'. HER CLRNC WAS NOT VIOLATED. ZHU THEN CALLED MOB DEP, MOB DEP CLAIMED THE CLRNC WAS FOR 10000'. WE READ BACK AND ACKNOWLEDGED 17000', CLEAR TO BOTH US PLTS AT THE TIME. ZHU THEN STATED THERE WAS NO TFC CONFLICT, AND NO PROB. SHE THEN CLRED US TO FL230. WE BELIEVE WE DID NOTHING WRONG AND THAT WE READ BACK THE STATED CLRNC OF 17000'. IT IS STRANGE THAT ZHU BELIEVED CLRNC WAS 14000', AND MOB CENTER CLAIMED IT WAS 10000' WHEN QUESTIONED LATER.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.