<< >> NASA ASRS Report 116997, July 1989

Large transport cleared to descend to FL240. Controller questioned altitude, said cleared to FL330 and acknowledged. Flight crew had not acknowledged. Another company aircraft said they had checked in at FL330 and center never acknowledged. FAA inspector on board confirmed clearance to FL240.

Attributes
ACN	116997
Time
Date	198907
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pie
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 24000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zma
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 125
ASRS Report	116997
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation

Narrative:

While descending through FL310 on the way to FL240, ZMA asked us our assigned altitude. We stated FL240. Center said we were given an amendment to FL330 and that we had acknowledged. We stated we had not acknowledged and center said he would pull the tapes. We did not receive or acknowledge that clearance. At that time we were given a turn. Another company flight told center he had checked in at FL330 and that center had not acknowledged. He stated that this is probably what center had heard. We had an FAA air carrier inspector on board from atlanta, mr X. He had a headset on and also confirmed the only clearance we had was to FL240.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LGT CLEARED TO DESCEND TO FL240. CTLR QUESTIONED ALT, SAID CLEARED TO FL330 AND ACKNOWLEDGED. FLT CREW HAD NOT ACKNOWLEDGED. ANOTHER COMPANY ACFT SAID THEY HAD CHECKED IN AT FL330 AND CENTER NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED. FAA INSPECTOR ON BOARD CONFIRMED CLRNC TO FL240.

Narrative: WHILE DESCENDING THROUGH FL310 ON THE WAY TO FL240, ZMA ASKED US OUR ASSIGNED ALT. WE STATED FL240. CENTER SAID WE WERE GIVEN AN AMENDMENT TO FL330 AND THAT WE HAD ACKNOWLEDGED. WE STATED WE HAD NOT ACKNOWLEDGED AND CENTER SAID HE WOULD PULL THE TAPES. WE DID NOT RECEIVE OR ACKNOWLEDGE THAT CLRNC. AT THAT TIME WE WERE GIVEN A TURN. ANOTHER COMPANY FLT TOLD CENTER HE HAD CHECKED IN AT FL330 AND THAT CENTER HAD NOT ACKNOWLEDGED. HE STATED THAT THIS IS PROBABLY WHAT CENTER HAD HEARD. WE HAD AN FAA AIR CARRIER INSPECTOR ON BOARD FROM ATLANTA, MR X. HE HAD A HEADSET ON AND ALSO CONFIRMED THE ONLY CLRNC WE HAD WAS TO FL240.

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.