Narrative:

Simultaneous apches were in progress at pit for runways 28R and 28L at the time. During radar vectors from ATC we were northeast of the airport eastbound at 6000'. ATC then gave us an intercept vector to the southwest to intercept the final approach course and a clearance to descend to 5000'. In the next ATC instruction the first officer and myself understood approach control to say, '4000' to kerrs (intersection), cleared for the ILS runway 28R approach, contact tower on 128.3'. The first officer read back those exact instructions and ATC's reply was 'ok'. We then complied with those instructions. Through telephone conversation with the approach controller and myself on the dates of 6/90 and 6/90 and replaying of the ATC tapes it was determined that ATC's instructions were 4 mi from kerrs, cleared for ILS runway 28R approach, contact tower 128.3' our reply was '4000' to kerrs, cleared for ILS runway 28R approach, contact tower 128.3' ATC's follow up transmission was 'ok'. Supplemental information from acn 147930. The captain looked at me and I read back those exact instructions and the final controller's only reply back to us was 'uh, ok'. We were informed that we had misheard the instructions and read back incorrectly but ATC did not correct our misunderstanding over the phone. The controller's comment to the captain was 'I guess we both learned something today' and I think that was the final conversation.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW FAILED TO FOLLOW APCH PROC AND FAILED TO MAKE A CROSSING RESTRICTION IN A CLRNC EXCHANGE WITH APCH CTLR.

Narrative: SIMULTANEOUS APCHES WERE IN PROGRESS AT PIT FOR RWYS 28R AND 28L AT THE TIME. DURING RADAR VECTORS FROM ATC WE WERE NE OF THE ARPT EBND AT 6000'. ATC THEN GAVE US AN INTERCEPT VECTOR TO THE SW TO INTERCEPT THE FINAL APCH COURSE AND A CLRNC TO DSND TO 5000'. IN THE NEXT ATC INSTRUCTION THE F/O AND MYSELF UNDERSTOOD APCH CTL TO SAY, '4000' TO KERRS (INTXN), CLRED FOR THE ILS RWY 28R APCH, CONTACT TWR ON 128.3'. THE F/O READ BACK THOSE EXACT INSTRUCTIONS AND ATC'S REPLY WAS 'OK'. WE THEN COMPLIED WITH THOSE INSTRUCTIONS. THROUGH TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE APCH CTLR AND MYSELF ON THE DATES OF 6/90 AND 6/90 AND REPLAYING OF THE ATC TAPES IT WAS DETERMINED THAT ATC'S INSTRUCTIONS WERE 4 MI FROM KERRS, CLRED FOR ILS RWY 28R APCH, CONTACT TWR 128.3' OUR REPLY WAS '4000' TO KERRS, CLRED FOR ILS RWY 28R APCH, CONTACT TWR 128.3' ATC'S FOLLOW UP XMISSION WAS 'OK'. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 147930. THE CAPT LOOKED AT ME AND I READ BACK THOSE EXACT INSTRUCTIONS AND THE FINAL CTLR'S ONLY REPLY BACK TO US WAS 'UH, OK'. WE WERE INFORMED THAT WE HAD MISHEARD THE INSTRUCTIONS AND READ BACK INCORRECTLY BUT ATC DID NOT CORRECT OUR MISUNDERSTANDING OVER THE PHONE. THE CTLR'S COMMENT TO THE CAPT WAS 'I GUESS WE BOTH LEARNED SOMETHING TODAY' AND I THINK THAT WAS THE FINAL CONVERSATION.

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.