Narrative:

A descent in VMC conditions under the control of ZID was being accomplished into the cincinnati, oh area. During this descent from FL330 several stepdown altitude level offs were issued and complied with. At the point where the altitude restriction misinterp occurred we were issued a clearance to cross 35 NM southwest of the cvg VOR (117.3) at 12,000 MSL. While on this descent we received and acknowledged a further clearance to cross this point at 250 KTS and 10,000 MSL. However, since this controller was handling several other aircraft at the same time and sensing a possible clearance error, two additional calls were made by me to center to confirm 10,000' MSL and 250 KTS. These calls were acknowledged by center with a 'roger'. At level off at 10,000, we were told to climb back to 12,000 which we initiated immediately. At 10,500' we were then told to level off at 10,000', followed shortly by a clearance to climb to 11,000'. After asking for clarification we continued climb to 11,000'. At this point we were handed off to cvg approach control and an uneventful descent, approach and landing were made into cincinnati. I believe the error by the controller was made due to handling too many other aircraft in this descent phase simultaneously and improperly acknowledging radio call readbacks by these aircraft.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CENTER CTLR CLEARED MLG TO DESCEND TO 10,000 WHEN HE REALLY INTENDED FOR THEM TO DESCEND TO 12,000.

Narrative: A DSCNT IN VMC CONDITIONS UNDER THE CONTROL OF ZID WAS BEING ACCOMPLISHED INTO THE CINCINNATI, OH AREA. DURING THIS DSCNT FROM FL330 SEVERAL STEPDOWN ALT LEVEL OFFS WERE ISSUED AND COMPLIED WITH. AT THE POINT WHERE THE ALT RESTRICTION MISINTERP OCCURRED WE WERE ISSUED A CLRNC TO CROSS 35 NM SW OF THE CVG VOR (117.3) AT 12,000 MSL. WHILE ON THIS DSCNT WE RECEIVED AND ACKNOWLEDGED A FURTHER CLRNC TO CROSS THIS POINT AT 250 KTS AND 10,000 MSL. HOWEVER, SINCE THIS CTLR WAS HANDLING SEVERAL OTHER ACFT AT THE SAME TIME AND SENSING A POSSIBLE CLRNC ERROR, TWO ADDITIONAL CALLS WERE MADE BY ME TO CENTER TO CONFIRM 10,000' MSL AND 250 KTS. THESE CALLS WERE ACKNOWLEDGED BY CENTER WITH A 'ROGER'. AT LEVEL OFF AT 10,000, WE WERE TOLD TO CLIMB BACK TO 12,000 WHICH WE INITIATED IMMEDIATELY. AT 10,500' WE WERE THEN TOLD TO LEVEL OFF AT 10,000', FOLLOWED SHORTLY BY A CLRNC TO CLIMB TO 11,000'. AFTER ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION WE CONTINUED CLIMB TO 11,000'. AT THIS POINT WE WERE HANDED OFF TO CVG APCH CTL AND AN UNEVENTFUL DSCNT, APCH AND LNDG WERE MADE INTO CINCINNATI. I BELIEVE THE ERROR BY THE CTLR WAS MADE DUE TO HANDLING TOO MANY OTHER ACFT IN THIS DSCNT PHASE SIMULTANEOUSLY AND IMPROPERLY ACKNOWLEDGING RADIO CALL READBACKS BY THESE ACFT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.