Flight crew of large transport overshot assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	200016
Time
Date	199201
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ord
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 130 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 1600
ASRS Report	200016
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

This is my second altitude miscom incident in 9 days! While on the oxi arrival to ord, we (captain and first officer) believed we were cleared to descend to cross halie intersection at 10000 ft. I noted and mentioned to the first officer that we were cleared to 10000 ft even though the arrival indicated to expect to cross halie at 11000 ft. Upon reaching 10000 ft, we were instructed to climb and maintain 11000 ft which we promptly did. The controller stated there must have been a mix up. He shortly thereafter cleared us to another frequency and commented that there had been no conflict due to the confusion. The controller was very courteous and professional. This incident points to the importance of exercising due caution in every action we take in our business. I knew the clearance was a little different from the expected, but I failed to call for verification as a duly diligent precaution. We must always confirm the unusual as it could easily be a misunderstanding and could lead to disaster.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF LGT OVERSHOT ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: THIS IS MY SECOND ALT MISCOM INCIDENT IN 9 DAYS! WHILE ON THE OXI ARR TO ORD, WE (CAPT AND FO) BELIEVED WE WERE CLRED TO DSND TO CROSS HALIE INTXN AT 10000 FT. I NOTED AND MENTIONED TO THE FO THAT WE WERE CLRED TO 10000 FT EVEN THOUGH THE ARR INDICATED TO EXPECT TO CROSS HALIE AT 11000 FT. UPON REACHING 10000 FT, WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO CLB AND MAINTAIN 11000 FT WHICH WE PROMPTLY DID. THE CTLR STATED THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A MIX UP. HE SHORTLY THEREAFTER CLRED US TO ANOTHER FREQ AND COMMENTED THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO CONFLICT DUE TO THE CONFUSION. THE CTLR WAS VERY COURTEOUS AND PROFESSIONAL. THIS INCIDENT POINTS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF EXERCISING DUE CAUTION IN EVERY ACTION WE TAKE IN OUR BUSINESS. I KNEW THE CLRNC WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM THE EXPECTED, BUT I FAILED TO CALL FOR VERIFICATION AS A DULY DILIGENT PRECAUTION. WE MUST ALWAYS CONFIRM THE UNUSUAL AS IT COULD EASILY BE A MISUNDERSTANDING AND COULD LEAD TO DISASTER.

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.