Bd-100 flight crew reported overshooting clearance altitude because they misunderstood the clearance...

Attributes
ACN	1314979
Time
Date	201512
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	FXE.Airport
State Reference	FL
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Challenger 300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Not Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 64 Flight Crew Total 7787 Flight Crew Type 149
Person 2
Function	First Officer Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 87 Flight Crew Total 8134 Flight Crew Type 167
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Altitude Overshoot Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Procedural FAR

Narrative:

While transitioning between the arrival and initial approach phases we were instructed to descend from 8000 feet to 4000 feet and given a heading of 250 degrees. Just after passing through 5;000 feet we were given a clearance to slow to 210 knots first and then continue our descent. This must have sounded as descend to 2;000 feet. As we reached 2;300 feet we were given a new heading of 270 degrees followed by a 340 degree heading and to climb to 3;000 feet. Between these two heading changes we received a TA. As ATC instructed us to climb to 3;000 feet they also informed us that we had been assigned 4;000 feet. Upon landing the company notified me to contact ATC to discuss the event.the first officer and I agreed that several factors may have contributed to the deviation. ATC assigning multiple clearance items simultaneously could have assisted as a cause. We were 1;000 feet from level off when we received a 210 knot speed reduction combined with another level off altitude. We were instructed to slow to 210 knots and then continue our descent. This combined with an ATC trainee on duty could have helped create the deviation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BD-100 flight crew reported overshooting clearance altitude because they misunderstood the clearance.

Narrative: While transitioning between the Arrival and Initial Approach phases we were instructed to descend from 8000 feet to 4000 feet and given a heading of 250 degrees. Just after passing through 5;000 feet we were given a clearance to slow to 210 knots first and then continue our descent. This must have sounded as descend to 2;000 feet. As we reached 2;300 feet we were given a new heading of 270 degrees followed by a 340 degree heading and to climb to 3;000 feet. Between these two heading changes we received a TA. As ATC instructed us to climb to 3;000 feet they also informed us that we had been assigned 4;000 feet. Upon landing the company notified me to contact ATC to discuss the event.The First Officer and I agreed that several factors may have contributed to the deviation. ATC assigning multiple clearance items simultaneously could have assisted as a cause. We were 1;000 feet from level off when we received a 210 knot speed reduction combined with another level off altitude. We were instructed to slow to 210 knots and then continue our descent. This combined with an ATC Trainee on duty could have helped create the deviation.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.