Large transport on vectors to approach at ord ends up on wrong heading and at wrong altitude.

Attributes
ACN	128304
Time
Date	198911
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ord
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4500 msl bound upper : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ord
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	128304
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation other

Narrative:

We were established on a radar downwind leg at 7000. Radar vectors were given and an ILS approach to 9L at chicago O'hare was briefed. We were in the clouds and the ATIS was reporting a 500' overcast conditions. The approach controller seemed busy, but a normal occurrence at chicago. We were told we would be followed a heavy. We were given instruction to 'turn left to 180 and descend and maintain 4000'. The instruction was repeated by the captain and a turn made to 180. Descending out of 4500 and established on a 180 heading, the controller told us to climb and maintain 5000. He said 'your heading is supposed to be 270'. All 3 cockpit crew members heard the controller issue a 180 heading and the heading along with the call sign was read back to the controller. No other mention was made of the incident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LGT ON VECTORS TO APCH AT ORD ENDS UP ON WRONG HEADING AND AT WRONG ALT.

Narrative: WE WERE ESTABLISHED ON A RADAR DOWNWIND LEG AT 7000. RADAR VECTORS WERE GIVEN AND AN ILS APCH TO 9L AT CHICAGO O'HARE WAS BRIEFED. WE WERE IN THE CLOUDS AND THE ATIS WAS REPORTING A 500' OVERCAST CONDITIONS. THE APCH CTLR SEEMED BUSY, BUT A NORMAL OCCURRENCE AT CHICAGO. WE WERE TOLD WE WOULD BE FOLLOWED A HEAVY. WE WERE GIVEN INSTRUCTION TO 'TURN LEFT TO 180 AND DSND AND MAINTAIN 4000'. THE INSTRUCTION WAS REPEATED BY THE CAPT AND A TURN MADE TO 180. DESCENDING OUT OF 4500 AND ESTABLISHED ON A 180 HDG, THE CTLR TOLD US TO CLIMB AND MAINTAIN 5000. HE SAID 'YOUR HDG IS SUPPOSED TO BE 270'. ALL 3 COCKPIT CREW MEMBERS HEARD THE CTLR ISSUE A 180 HDG AND THE HDG ALONG WITH THE CALL SIGN WAS READ BACK TO THE CTLR. NO OTHER MENTION WAS MADE OF THE INCIDENT.

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.