Close proximity 2 GA aircraft opposite direction same altitude, both on IFR flight plan.

Attributes
ACN	165986
Time
Date	199012
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : fpr
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zma
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 70 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	165986
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 700 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation Operational Error

Narrative:

Both pilot and copilot read a descent to 3000'. We read 3000' back to the controller. Our transponder mode C was operative. We descended and leveled at 3000' MSL. After being at that altitude for a period of approximately 3-5 mins, we were advised that we had small transport traffic at 3000' 4 mi opp direction. He then advised the small transport of our position and altitude. We did not hear the altitude given the small transport for us. When we saw the small transport we reported traffic in sight. No evasive action was needed. The small transport then reported to the center that we were at 3000' instead of 4000'. Center then asked us our altitude and we told him 3000'. We also asked what altitude he had assigned us. He said 4000'. Both the captain and copilot are certain we were assigned 3000'. We also thought the small transport was VFR. Had we known he was IFR, we would have known an error was in progress.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLOSE PROX 2 GA ACFT OPPOSITE DIRECTION SAME ALT, BOTH ON IFR FLT PLAN.

Narrative: BOTH PLT AND COPLT READ A DSNT TO 3000'. WE READ 3000' BACK TO THE CTLR. OUR XPONDER MODE C WAS OPERATIVE. WE DSNDED AND LEVELED AT 3000' MSL. AFTER BEING AT THAT ALT FOR A PERIOD OF APPROX 3-5 MINS, WE WERE ADVISED THAT WE HAD SMT TFC AT 3000' 4 MI OPP DIRECTION. HE THEN ADVISED THE SMT OF OUR POS AND ALT. WE DID NOT HEAR THE ALT GIVEN THE SMT FOR US. WHEN WE SAW THE SMT WE RPTED TFC IN SIGHT. NO EVASIVE ACTION WAS NEEDED. THE SMT THEN RPTED TO THE CENTER THAT WE WERE AT 3000' INSTEAD OF 4000'. CENTER THEN ASKED US OUR ALT AND WE TOLD HIM 3000'. WE ALSO ASKED WHAT ALT HE HAD ASSIGNED US. HE SAID 4000'. BOTH THE CAPT AND COPLT ARE CERTAIN WE WERE ASSIGNED 3000'. WE ALSO THOUGHT THE SMT WAS VFR. HAD WE KNOWN HE WAS IFR, WE WOULD HAVE KNOWN AN ERROR WAS IN PROGRESS.

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.