Air carrier and controller involved in altitude dispute.

Attributes
ACN	138629
Time
Date	199003
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mad
State Reference	CT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bdl
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 140 flight time total : 14183 flight time type : 3770
ASRS Report	138629
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

'Too many numbers and too much information all at once'. We had just switched from center to approach control and checked in with our identify, 11000', 250 KTS with ATIS. Approach control acknowledged and gave us the following clearance: turn right to 360 degree, descend to (what we believed to be 7000'), altimeter 29.79, expect vectors to runway 24 wind 220/15 G 25 KTS. I responded with a readback of the above and stated leaving 11000' for 7000'. (Our procedure for setting the altitude alerter is for the flying pilot to set the altitude he hears and the non flying pilot to respond at ATC with the altitude he hears.) in this case, 7000' heard and set by the pilot flying and 7000' heard and responded to by the non flying pilot. At approximately 8500', the controller asked, 'what is your altitude?' I responded 8.5 for 7.0. Controller stated that 'you were cleared to 10000'.' I replied that I read back, 'descending to 7000'' and did not receive a challenge. The controller then said all right or ok, continue descent to 5000 and turn right to 60. No further conflicts.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR AND CTLR INVOLVED IN ALT DISPUTE.

Narrative: 'TOO MANY NUMBERS AND TOO MUCH INFO ALL AT ONCE'. WE HAD JUST SWITCHED FROM CENTER TO APCH CTL AND CHECKED IN WITH OUR IDENT, 11000', 250 KTS WITH ATIS. APCH CTL ACKNOWLEDGED AND GAVE US THE FOLLOWING CLRNC: TURN RIGHT TO 360 DEG, DSND TO (WHAT WE BELIEVED TO BE 7000'), ALTIMETER 29.79, EXPECT VECTORS TO RWY 24 WIND 220/15 G 25 KTS. I RESPONDED WITH A READBACK OF THE ABOVE AND STATED LEAVING 11000' FOR 7000'. (OUR PROC FOR SETTING THE ALT ALERTER IS FOR THE FLYING PLT TO SET THE ALT HE HEARS AND THE NON FLYING PLT TO RESPOND AT ATC WITH THE ALT HE HEARS.) IN THIS CASE, 7000' HEARD AND SET BY THE PLT FLYING AND 7000' HEARD AND RESPONDED TO BY THE NON FLYING PLT. AT APPROX 8500', THE CTLR ASKED, 'WHAT IS YOUR ALT?' I RESPONDED 8.5 FOR 7.0. CTLR STATED THAT 'YOU WERE CLRED TO 10000'.' I REPLIED THAT I READ BACK, 'DESCENDING TO 7000'' AND DID NOT RECEIVE A CHALLENGE. THE CTLR THEN SAID ALL RIGHT OR OK, CONTINUE DSCNT TO 5000 AND TURN RIGHT TO 60. NO FURTHER CONFLICTS.

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.