Misinterp of climb clearance.

Attributes
ACN	110942
Time
Date	198905
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8700 msl bound upper : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl
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 : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Light Transport
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	110942
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 6000 vertical : 1300
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

About 15 NM northwest of atl, in a turn from heading 280 to 360 degrees (as vectored by atl departure), climbing through 8700' MSL to 10000' MSL, crew (captain and copilot) saw a military aircraft passing overhead. When controller was asked about the altitude of the traffic, he replied that it was at 10000' MSL, and that we were only cleared to 9000' MSL and that we had replied to that clearance. Not true--we were not cleared to 9000', but instead to 10000'. Had we been climbing faster, a real conflict would have occurred. Obviously, a communication problem occurred.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MISINTERP OF CLIMB CLRNC.

Narrative: ABOUT 15 NM NW OF ATL, IN A TURN FROM HDG 280 TO 360 DEGS (AS VECTORED BY ATL DEP), CLBING THROUGH 8700' MSL TO 10000' MSL, CREW (CAPT AND COPLT) SAW A MIL ACFT PASSING OVERHEAD. WHEN CTLR WAS ASKED ABOUT THE ALT OF THE TFC, HE REPLIED THAT IT WAS AT 10000' MSL, AND THAT WE WERE ONLY CLRED TO 9000' MSL AND THAT WE HAD REPLIED TO THAT CLRNC. NOT TRUE--WE WERE NOT CLRED TO 9000', BUT INSTEAD TO 10000'. HAD WE BEEN CLBING FASTER, A REAL CONFLICT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. OBVIOUSLY, A COM PROB OCCURRED.

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.