Narrative:

The problem: incorrect interpretation of the location of the stefe intersection on the nancy #2 STAR to lga. We were cleared to hold southwest of ard VOR on the 233 degree right at the stefe intersection. Right turns, 10 mi legs at 13000'. Both pilots looked at the STAR and incorrectly located the stefe intersection 13 DME from ard. Approaching the 13 DME and descending from 14000 to 13000', we were instructed to climb immediately back to 14000', which we did. We commenced our right turn at the 13 DME. The controller said we were to hold at stefe. We said we were in the turn entering the hold. At this time an aircraft behind us called entering the hold at stefe at 13000'. The altitude problem apparently involved an aircraft behind us who had been previously to 13000'. The controller realized his mistake before a problem occurred. On our second turn at the 13 DME the controller questioned us again, and at this point and another look at the STAR we realized our mistake. Subsequent patterns were at the stefe intersection, which is 23 DME (10 mi to somto 13 to stefe). The problem may have been avoided had the clearance been given to hold northeast of dqo on the 053 degree right at the stefe intersection as published.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW CLEARED TO HOLD AT STEFE MISREAD CHART AND STARTED TURN FOR HOLD 13 MILES FROM ARD. STEFE IS 23 MILES FROM ARD. TRAFFIC CONFLICT WITH ANOTHER ACFT CLEARED HOLD AT 13000' MSL.

Narrative: THE PROB: INCORRECT INTERP OF THE LOCATION OF THE STEFE INTXN ON THE NANCY #2 STAR TO LGA. WE WERE CLRED TO HOLD SW OF ARD VOR ON THE 233 DEG R AT THE STEFE INTXN. RIGHT TURNS, 10 MI LEGS AT 13000'. BOTH PLTS LOOKED AT THE STAR AND INCORRECTLY LOCATED THE STEFE INTXN 13 DME FROM ARD. APCHING THE 13 DME AND DSNDING FROM 14000 TO 13000', WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO CLB IMMEDIATELY BACK TO 14000', WHICH WE DID. WE COMMENCED OUR RIGHT TURN AT THE 13 DME. THE CTLR SAID WE WERE TO HOLD AT STEFE. WE SAID WE WERE IN THE TURN ENTERING THE HOLD. AT THIS TIME AN ACFT BEHIND US CALLED ENTERING THE HOLD AT STEFE AT 13000'. THE ALT PROB APPARENTLY INVOLVED AN ACFT BEHIND US WHO HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY TO 13000'. THE CTLR REALIZED HIS MISTAKE BEFORE A PROB OCCURRED. ON OUR SECOND TURN AT THE 13 DME THE CTLR QUESTIONED US AGAIN, AND AT THIS POINT AND ANOTHER LOOK AT THE STAR WE REALIZED OUR MISTAKE. SUBSEQUENT PATTERNS WERE AT THE STEFE INTXN, WHICH IS 23 DME (10 MI TO SOMTO 13 TO STEFE). THE PROB MAY HAVE BEEN AVOIDED HAD THE CLRNC BEEN GIVEN TO HOLD NE OF DQO ON THE 053 DEG R AT THE STEFE INTXN AS PUBLISHED.

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.