Cga descended below assigned altitude resulting in less than standard separation.

Attributes
ACN	179412
Time
Date	199105
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ind
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Military Transport
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	179412
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 3100 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	179266
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : assigned or threatened penalties
Miss Distance	horizontal : 48000 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were cruising at FL410 and given descent to FL330. FL330 was put in altitude preset. We started down and leveled off at FL330. Upon level flight at FL330, we looked out at 1-2 O'clock and saw a military aircraft at same altitude 15-20 mi away. We questioned the controller we should be at FL330. He said, 'turn left 20 degrees, you should be at FL350.' so we turned left 20 degrees and climbed up to 350 degrees and leveled off. Nothing else was said until handoff to next frequency, at which time the controller stated, 'you may or may not have been involved in an operational error. Would you like the phone #?' at this time he gave us the # and we copied it down, but didn't call. We interpreted it as a controller error.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CGA DESCENDED BELOW ASSIGNED ALT RESULTING IN LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION.

Narrative: WE WERE CRUISING AT FL410 AND GIVEN DSNT TO FL330. FL330 WAS PUT IN ALT PRESET. WE STARTED DOWN AND LEVELED OFF AT FL330. UPON LEVEL FLT AT FL330, WE LOOKED OUT AT 1-2 O'CLOCK AND SAW A MIL ACFT AT SAME ALT 15-20 MI AWAY. WE QUESTIONED THE CTLR WE SHOULD BE AT FL330. HE SAID, 'TURN LEFT 20 DEGS, YOU SHOULD BE AT FL350.' SO WE TURNED LEFT 20 DEGS AND CLBED UP TO 350 DEGS AND LEVELED OFF. NOTHING ELSE WAS SAID UNTIL HDOF TO NEXT FREQ, AT WHICH TIME THE CTLR STATED, 'YOU MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN AN OPERROR. WOULD YOU LIKE THE PHONE #?' AT THIS TIME HE GAVE US THE # AND WE COPIED IT DOWN, BUT DIDN'T CALL. WE INTERPRETED IT AS A CTLR ERROR.

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.