Small aircraft descended through assigned altitude due to readback hearback problem. No other traffi...

Attributes
ACN	160119
Time
Date	199010
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mht
State Reference	NH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mht
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 1250 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	160119
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

It was an IFR training flight, en route from een direct to mht for practice approachs. The mht approach told us to descend from 4000 to 2000'. My student read back, 'out of 4 for 2.' as we were descending out of 3800' the controller told us to expedite our descent through 3000'. We complied. At 2600' the controller asked us to say altitude, and at that time we were informed that we were only to descend to 3000'. We then corrected and went back to 3000'. I heard the controller tell us to leave 4000 for 2000', and my student did read back the descent instructions, and if the controller had wanted us at 3000', it should have been questioned at that time.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA DESCENDED THROUGH ASSIGNED ALT DUE TO READBACK HEARBACK PROBLEM. NO OTHER TRAFFIC INVOLVED.

Narrative: IT WAS AN IFR TRNING FLT, ENRTE FROM EEN DIRECT TO MHT FOR PRACTICE APCHS. THE MHT APCH TOLD US TO DSND FROM 4000 TO 2000'. MY STUDENT READ BACK, 'OUT OF 4 FOR 2.' AS WE WERE DSNDING OUT OF 3800' THE CTLR TOLD US TO EXPEDITE OUR DSNT THROUGH 3000'. WE COMPLIED. AT 2600' THE CTLR ASKED US TO SAY ALT, AND AT THAT TIME WE WERE INFORMED THAT WE WERE ONLY TO DSND TO 3000'. WE THEN CORRECTED AND WENT BACK TO 3000'. I HEARD THE CTLR TELL US TO LEAVE 4000 FOR 2000', AND MY STUDENT DID READ BACK THE DSNT INSTRUCTIONS, AND IF THE CTLR HAD WANTED US AT 3000', IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN QUESTIONED AT THAT TIME.

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.

Small aircraft descended through assigned altitude due to readback hearback problem. No other traffic involved.