Air carrier large transport was cleared to 5000 by ZAU when ARTCC radar controller intended to give clearance to 15,000. Confirmation was requested and received by the flight crew. Passing 11,500 ARTCC recleared aircraft to maintain 12,000 and advised the previous clearance was given in error.

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Attributes
ACN	117406
Time
Date	198907
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : msn
State Reference	WI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11600 msl bound upper : 15000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	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 : 250 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	117406
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	117409
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation

Narrative:

On radar vectors level at 16,000 (ord-msn). At approximately 18 DME east of msn VOR controller on 132.3 cleared us to 5000'. First officer acknowledged company identification out of 16,000 for 5000''. First officer set 5000' in altitude alert. Controller told us to change to his frequency 133.6. First officer checked on new frequency 'company identification leaving (12,000? 13,000?) confirm cleared altitude is 5000''. Controller response 'cleared to 5000'. As we were about 11,600' controller said to maintain 12,000'. First officer said we were at 11,500 and previously cleared to 5000. He said you were cleared to 15,000' but now maintain 11,000. First officer acknowledged 'out of 11,500 for 11,000'. First officer commented 'when I checked on your second frequency, I asked you to confirm 5000' as the cleared altitude and you confirmed 5000''. Controller said 'yes, my mistake'. Ord controllers continue to be overworked. We understand many are working 6 days/week. This occurred about XA00 local time. Fatigue of controller may have been factor.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT WAS CLEARED TO 5000 BY ZAU WHEN ARTCC RADAR CTLR INTENDED TO GIVE CLRNC TO 15,000. CONFIRMATION WAS REQUESTED AND RECEIVED BY THE FLT CREW. PASSING 11,500 ARTCC RECLEARED ACFT TO MAINTAIN 12,000 AND ADVISED THE PREVIOUS CLRNC WAS GIVEN IN ERROR.

Narrative: ON RADAR VECTORS LEVEL AT 16,000 (ORD-MSN). AT APPROX 18 DME E OF MSN VOR CTLR ON 132.3 CLRED US TO 5000'. F/O ACKNOWLEDGED COMPANY ID OUT OF 16,000 FOR 5000''. F/O SET 5000' IN ALT ALERT. CTLR TOLD US TO CHANGE TO HIS FREQ 133.6. F/O CHECKED ON NEW FREQ 'COMPANY ID LEAVING (12,000? 13,000?) CONFIRM CLRED ALT IS 5000''. CTLR RESPONSE 'CLRED TO 5000'. AS WE WERE ABOUT 11,600' CTLR SAID TO MAINTAIN 12,000'. F/O SAID WE WERE AT 11,500 AND PREVIOUSLY CLRED TO 5000. HE SAID YOU WERE CLRED TO 15,000' BUT NOW MAINTAIN 11,000. F/O ACKNOWLEDGED 'OUT OF 11,500 FOR 11,000'. F/O COMMENTED 'WHEN I CHECKED ON YOUR SECOND FREQ, I ASKED YOU TO CONFIRM 5000' AS THE CLRED ALT AND YOU CONFIRMED 5000''. CTLR SAID 'YES, MY MISTAKE'. ORD CTLRS CONTINUE TO BE OVERWORKED. WE UNDERSTAND MANY ARE WORKING 6 DAYS/WEEK. THIS OCCURRED ABOUT XA00 LOCAL TIME. FATIGUE OF CTLR MAY HAVE BEEN FACTOR.

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.