ARTCC controller issued heading ot pilot. Pilot read back wrong heading and controller did not hear ...

Attributes
ACN	144157
Time
Date	199004
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : fak
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 24500 msl bound upper : 26000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc tower : dfw
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	144157
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Because of WX at all of the north.Y. Area airports, holding was required at fak (destination was mmv). Began holding at XX15Z. After approximately 45-50 mins of holding, we were given alternate routing to our destination. Immediately after leaving the holding pattern on the alternate routing, we were advised that the clearance was cancelled and that all inbnds to mmu were being stopped indefinitely. We advised center that we would therefore have to divert to iad. After several radar vectors and descent clrncs, we were told to turn to 340 degrees and descend to FL330. While passing through heading 280 degrees and FL245, the controller asked what our heading was and urgently directed us to climb to FL260. After asking another aft what his altitude was (FL250) he rescinded our altitude clearance and gave us a new heading. The controller later said that the original heading issued was 240 degrees, not 340 degrees. I heard 340 degrees, the copilot heard 340 degrees, and he read back 340 degrees. I believe that because of his heavy workload, the controller either issued the wrong heading or did not notice that the readback was other than that which was issued.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ARTCC CTLR ISSUED HEADING OT PLT. PLT READ BACK WRONG HEADING AND CTLR DID NOT HEAR THE PLT READBACK ERROR.

Narrative: BECAUSE OF WX AT ALL OF THE N.Y. AREA ARPTS, HOLDING WAS REQUIRED AT FAK (DEST WAS MMV). BEGAN HOLDING AT XX15Z. AFTER APPROX 45-50 MINS OF HOLDING, WE WERE GIVEN ALTERNATE ROUTING TO OUR DEST. IMMEDIATELY AFTER LEAVING THE HOLDING PATTERN ON THE ALTERNATE ROUTING, WE WERE ADVISED THAT THE CLRNC WAS CANCELLED AND THAT ALL INBNDS TO MMU WERE BEING STOPPED INDEFINITELY. WE ADVISED CENTER THAT WE WOULD THEREFORE HAVE TO DIVERT TO IAD. AFTER SEVERAL RADAR VECTORS AND DSNT CLRNCS, WE WERE TOLD TO TURN TO 340 DEGS AND DSND TO FL330. WHILE PASSING THROUGH HDG 280 DEGS AND FL245, THE CTLR ASKED WHAT OUR HDG WAS AND URGENTLY DIRECTED US TO CLB TO FL260. AFTER ASKING ANOTHER AFT WHAT HIS ALT WAS (FL250) HE RESCINDED OUR ALT CLRNC AND GAVE US A NEW HDG. THE CTLR LATER SAID THAT THE ORIGINAL HDG ISSUED WAS 240 DEGS, NOT 340 DEGS. I HEARD 340 DEGS, THE COPLT HEARD 340 DEGS, AND HE READ BACK 340 DEGS. I BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE OF HIS HEAVY WORKLOAD, THE CTLR EITHER ISSUED THE WRONG HDG OR DID NOT NOTICE THAT THE READBACK WAS OTHER THAN THAT WHICH WAS ISSUED.

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.

ARTCC controller issued heading ot pilot. Pilot read back wrong heading and controller did not hear the pilot readback error.