Readback cleared to FL260 controller says heading 260.

Attributes
ACN	106558
Time
Date	198903
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bsv
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 22000 msl bound upper : 23500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : direct enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	106558
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	106557
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

ZOB cleared us to FL260, when changed over to next controller he cleared us to FL220 as we were climbing through FL235. Lack of communication between controllers and aircraft contributed to missed altitude. Last controller stated he assigned us to a 260 degree heading, but previous controller had also cleared us direct to ape VOR. Our flight plan from cak to day is FL260. When altitude was questioned we returned to FL220.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: READBACK CLEARED TO FL260 CTLR SAYS HEADING 260.

Narrative: ZOB CLRED US TO FL260, WHEN CHANGED OVER TO NEXT CTLR HE CLRED US TO FL220 AS WE WERE CLBING THROUGH FL235. LACK OF COM BTWN CTLRS AND ACFT CONTRIBUTED TO MISSED ALT. LAST CTLR STATED HE ASSIGNED US TO A 260 DEG HDG, BUT PREVIOUS CTLR HAD ALSO CLRED US DIRECT TO APE VOR. OUR FLT PLAN FROM CAK TO DAY IS FL260. WHEN ALT WAS QUESTIONED WE RETURNED TO FL220.

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.