Altitude deviation on STAR.

Attributes
ACN	140322
Time
Date	199003
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pdx
State Reference	OR
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pdx
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 4 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other enroute : direct enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 19000 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	140329
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Flight was approaching pdx, navigating direct to pdx VOR (079 degree right, 20 DME). We were cleared to descend to 7000' and read the clearance back to controller. When the controller apparently saw fit to check our altitude, we responded that we were maintaining 7000'. He said we were cleared to maintain 9000'. There was no traffic or terrain conflict because the controller said, 'no problem,' and the chart depicted good terrain clearance. My question is maybe the clearance was for someone else and the controller never noticed whom the response was coming from. We will be very alert to this potential problem in the future, as will that controller.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEVIATION ON STAR.

Narrative: FLT WAS APCHING PDX, NAVIGATING DIRECT TO PDX VOR (079 DEG R, 20 DME). WE WERE CLRED TO DSND TO 7000' AND READ THE CLRNC BACK TO CTLR. WHEN THE CTLR APPARENTLY SAW FIT TO CHK OUR ALT, WE RESPONDED THAT WE WERE MAINTAINING 7000'. HE SAID WE WERE CLRED TO MAINTAIN 9000'. THERE WAS NO TFC OR TERRAIN CONFLICT BECAUSE THE CTLR SAID, 'NO PROB,' AND THE CHART DEPICTED GOOD TERRAIN CLRNC. MY QUESTION IS MAYBE THE CLRNC WAS FOR SOMEONE ELSE AND THE CTLR NEVER NOTICED WHOM THE RESPONSE WAS COMING FROM. WE WILL BE VERY ALERT TO THIS POTENTIAL PROB IN THE FUTURE, AS WILL THAT CTLR.

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.