Aircraft entered terminal airspace at the wrong altitude.

Attributes
ACN	157702
Time
Date	199009
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : buj
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9000 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dfw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star enroute airway : dfw
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	157702
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 2500 flight time type : 750
ASRS Report	157599
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation

Narrative:

Received ATIS approximately 150 NM from our destination, dfw. ATIS advised a landing to the north. Received an initial clearance to FL240 from ZFW. Later, approximately 80 NM from blue ridge, we received clearance to cross baton at 9000'. All 3 crew members remember hearing 9000'. I read it back and set it in the altitude alert. Passing 10000' we received a handoff to dfw approach and checked in out of 9600' for 9000'. Dfw approach responded with, 'that's wrong,' and then said, 'maintain 9000', you should have leveled at 11000'.' (this is the correct altitude for a landing to the north.) we informed dfw approach that ZFW cleared us to 9000'. Dfw approach cleared us to 5000' and said he would straighten out the center controller. We probably should have noted the clearance to 9000' instead of 11000', but it just could have handed us over to dfw approach a little earlier, say by 14000', the mistake by the center controller would have been noted thus avoiding any potential conflict with departing aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACFT ENTERED TERMINAL AIRSPACE AT THE WRONG ALT.

Narrative: RECEIVED ATIS APPROX 150 NM FROM OUR DEST, DFW. ATIS ADVISED A LNDG TO THE N. RECEIVED AN INITIAL CLRNC TO FL240 FROM ZFW. LATER, APPROX 80 NM FROM BLUE RIDGE, WE RECEIVED CLRNC TO CROSS BATON AT 9000'. ALL 3 CREW MEMBERS REMEMBER HEARING 9000'. I READ IT BACK AND SET IT IN THE ALT ALERT. PASSING 10000' WE RECEIVED A HDOF TO DFW APCH AND CHKED IN OUT OF 9600' FOR 9000'. DFW APCH RESPONDED WITH, 'THAT'S WRONG,' AND THEN SAID, 'MAINTAIN 9000', YOU SHOULD HAVE LEVELED AT 11000'.' (THIS IS THE CORRECT ALT FOR A LNDG TO THE N.) WE INFORMED DFW APCH THAT ZFW CLRED US TO 9000'. DFW APCH CLRED US TO 5000' AND SAID HE WOULD STRAIGHTEN OUT THE CENTER CTLR. WE PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE NOTED THE CLRNC TO 9000' INSTEAD OF 11000', BUT IT JUST COULD HAVE HANDED US OVER TO DFW APCH A LITTLE EARLIER, SAY BY 14000', THE MISTAKE BY THE CENTER CTLR WOULD HAVE BEEN NOTED THUS AVOIDING ANY POTENTIAL CONFLICT WITH DEPARTING ACFT.

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.