Air carrier flight crew given 3 changes of altitude in 1 clearance. Altitude deviation.

Attributes
ACN	144723
Time
Date	199005
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bwi
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9000 msl bound upper : 14000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bwi
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	144723
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We cleared for takeoff with a right turn to 280 degrees and climb to 14000'. We were handed off to departure. We were told to continue right turn to 090 degrees and climb to 14000'--then in the same transmission he said climb to 11000' and then 9000'. Neither of us heard the 9000' level off and proceeded to climb to 11000'. I asked the controller to verify altitude and he replied, '9000, but I see you are at 11000'.' I replied that, 'you cleared us to 14000 and then 11000.' he came back with, 'I cleared you to 9000.' then he handed us off to ZDC. I think part of the problem was the controller giving us 3 level off altitudes in 1 transmission. We were in a 270 degree turn, looking for scud-runners, and running checklists. Had he given us 1 altitude at a time, there would have been no problem.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR FLT CREW GIVEN 3 CHANGES OF ALT IN 1 CLRNC. ALT DEVIATION.

Narrative: WE CLRED FOR TKOF WITH A RIGHT TURN TO 280 DEGS AND CLB TO 14000'. WE WERE HANDED OFF TO DEP. WE WERE TOLD TO CONTINUE RIGHT TURN TO 090 DEGS AND CLB TO 14000'--THEN IN THE SAME XMISSION HE SAID CLB TO 11000' AND THEN 9000'. NEITHER OF US HEARD THE 9000' LEVEL OFF AND PROCEEDED TO CLB TO 11000'. I ASKED THE CTLR TO VERIFY ALT AND HE REPLIED, '9000, BUT I SEE YOU ARE AT 11000'.' I REPLIED THAT, 'YOU CLRED US TO 14000 AND THEN 11000.' HE CAME BACK WITH, 'I CLRED YOU TO 9000.' THEN HE HANDED US OFF TO ZDC. I THINK PART OF THE PROB WAS THE CTLR GIVING US 3 LEVEL OFF ALTS IN 1 XMISSION. WE WERE IN A 270 DEG TURN, LOOKING FOR SCUD-RUNNERS, AND RUNNING CHKLISTS. HAD HE GIVEN US 1 ALT AT A TIME, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO PROB.

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.