A departing air carrier was issued a descent and new heading just after takeoff for traffic.

Attributes
ACN	115335
Time
Date	198906
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : jfk
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Transport, High Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure other enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 5100 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	115335
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot conflict : airborne less severe
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 2000 vertical : 200
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Given clearance from the jfk-bos and instructed to maintain 5000'. Taxied to runway 31R at jfk. Tower gave clearance to takeoff with additional instructions to make a tight right turn to 090 degrees to avoid lga airspace. On climb out tower asked what altitude we were maintaining. Told tower we were out of 2400' for 5000'. Instructed by tower to maintain 2000' and heading of 090 degrees for traffic. Had traffic in sight and was instructed to call departure control. Instructed by departure control to immediately descend to 2000' and heading of 060 degrees for traffic. Further clearance to 5000' and on course came 2 mins later. Problem seems to have been a breakdown in communications between departure control and the tower at jfk. Don't remember any altitude restriction other than what clearance had issued. Other crew member does not remember any altitude restriction by tower. I read back the clearance for a tight turn to 090 degrees west/O any altitude readback. Tower response was a 'roger.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DEPARTING ACR WAS ISSUED A DESCENT AND NEW HEADING JUST AFTER TKOF FOR TRAFFIC.

Narrative: GIVEN CLRNC FROM THE JFK-BOS AND INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN 5000'. TAXIED TO RWY 31R AT JFK. TWR GAVE CLRNC TO TKOF WITH ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE A TIGHT RIGHT TURN TO 090 DEGS TO AVOID LGA AIRSPACE. ON CLBOUT TWR ASKED WHAT ALT WE WERE MAINTAINING. TOLD TWR WE WERE OUT OF 2400' FOR 5000'. INSTRUCTED BY TWR TO MAINTAIN 2000' AND HDG OF 090 DEGS FOR TFC. HAD TFC IN SIGHT AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO CALL DEP CTL. INSTRUCTED BY DEP CTL TO IMMEDIATELY DSND TO 2000' AND HDG OF 060 DEGS FOR TFC. FURTHER CLRNC TO 5000' AND ON COURSE CAME 2 MINS LATER. PROB SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A BREAKDOWN IN COMS BTWN DEP CTL AND THE TWR AT JFK. DON'T REMEMBER ANY ALT RESTRICTION OTHER THAN WHAT CLRNC HAD ISSUED. OTHER CREW MEMBER DOES NOT REMEMBER ANY ALT RESTRICTION BY TWR. I READ BACK THE CLRNC FOR A TIGHT TURN TO 090 DEGS W/O ANY ALT READBACK. TWR RESPONSE WAS A 'ROGER.'

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.