Narrative:

Air carrier X was at 6000' in IFR conditions with approach control when we received clearance to descend to 5000' and contact another approach controller. As we were leveling off at 5000' and had just switched to the new approach frequency, we heard part of a transmission which stated, 'alert, descend and turn right.' the captain paused to see if anyone would reply. Then we heard 'air carrier X,' from the controller with the words 'conflict alert, immediately descend and turn right.' we replied followed instructions. Apparently what happened was that the second approach controller did not notify the first controller to not give us a descent clearance to 5000'. At no time were we ever notified of the other traffic until we switched to the second controller. Supplemental information from acn 166515: on vector by ny approach control at altitude 6000', approximately 20 DME northwest of teb VOR, heading approximately 060 degrees, air carrier X was cleared to change frequency to ewr approach, 132.7. I immediately tuned the new frequency and heard these words: 'descend to 5000' immediately.' I waited before transmitting and received this transmission: 'air carrier X, did you receive the clearance?' I replied, 'negative.' ewr approach replied, 'air carrier X, descending to 5000'; turn right heading 090 degrees immediately; traffic conflict alert.' traffic was observed by all 3 pilots passing to our left westbound climbing through our altitude. The estimated distance was approximately 1/2 mi. No further evasive maneuvers were required. We were on top of a thin overcast approximately 1000' thick with good visibility. At no time prior to this exchange with ewr approach had our flight been cleared from 6000' by ny approach nor had we acknowledged same. The exchange with ewr approach was the first clearance to leave 6000' any of the 3 pilots heard.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR X FAILED TO COMPLY WITH ATC CLRNC HAD LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION WITH ACFT Y. PLT DEVIATION.

Narrative: ACR X WAS AT 6000' IN IFR CONDITIONS WITH APCH CTL WHEN WE RECEIVED CLRNC TO DSND TO 5000' AND CONTACT ANOTHER APCH CTLR. AS WE WERE LEVELING OFF AT 5000' AND HAD JUST SWITCHED TO THE NEW APCH FREQ, WE HEARD PART OF A XMISSION WHICH STATED, 'ALERT, DSND AND TURN RIGHT.' THE CAPT PAUSED TO SEE IF ANYONE WOULD REPLY. THEN WE HEARD 'ACR X,' FROM THE CTLR WITH THE WORDS 'CONFLICT ALERT, IMMEDIATELY DSND AND TURN RIGHT.' WE REPLIED FOLLOWED INSTRUCTIONS. APPARENTLY WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT THE SECOND APCH CTLR DID NOT NOTIFY THE FIRST CTLR TO NOT GIVE US A DSNT CLRNC TO 5000'. AT NO TIME WERE WE EVER NOTIFIED OF THE OTHER TFC UNTIL WE SWITCHED TO THE SECOND CTLR. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 166515: ON VECTOR BY NY APCH CTL AT ALT 6000', APPROX 20 DME NW OF TEB VOR, HDG APPROX 060 DEGS, ACR X WAS CLRED TO CHANGE FREQ TO EWR APCH, 132.7. I IMMEDIATELY TUNED THE NEW FREQ AND HEARD THESE WORDS: 'DSND TO 5000' IMMEDIATELY.' I WAITED BEFORE XMITTING AND RECEIVED THIS XMISSION: 'ACR X, DID YOU RECEIVE THE CLRNC?' I REPLIED, 'NEGATIVE.' EWR APCH REPLIED, 'ACR X, DSNDING TO 5000'; TURN RIGHT HDG 090 DEGS IMMEDIATELY; TFC CONFLICT ALERT.' TFC WAS OBSERVED BY ALL 3 PLTS PASSING TO OUR LEFT WBND CLBING THROUGH OUR ALT. THE ESTIMATED DISTANCE WAS APPROX 1/2 MI. NO FURTHER EVASIVE MANEUVERS WERE REQUIRED. WE WERE ON TOP OF A THIN OVCST APPROX 1000' THICK WITH GOOD VISIBILITY. AT NO TIME PRIOR TO THIS EXCHANGE WITH EWR APCH HAD OUR FLT BEEN CLRED FROM 6000' BY NY APCH NOR HAD WE ACKNOWLEDGED SAME. THE EXCHANGE WITH EWR APCH WAS THE FIRST CLRNC TO LEAVE 6000' ANY OF THE 3 PLTS HEARD.

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.