Narrative:

We were tracking into slc on the ogden 153 degree radial. In short order, we were given a heading, altitude, and runway change from 16R to 16L. At the same time we were trying to slow down, configure and run the checklists. Passing 7700 MSL, the controller told us to level at 8000 ft. The captain stopped the descent and I informed the controller that we were now at 7500 MSL but would climb back to 8000. The controller then asked if he had given us 8000 initially. I told him that we understood 6000. Nothing more was said. I still don't know if we were initially given 6000 or 8000 because neither the captain nor I can specifically remember that instruction. I do know that with 6000 the GS intercept for 16L -- we believed we were going to the correct altitude. Supplemental information from acn 203278: we became preoccupied with reprogramming the FMS, selecting, tuning and identing the new ILS frequency, slowing the aircraft down, and descending the aircraft toward the runway. After landing the first officer and I discussed the incident and neither could remember specifically all the ATC commands that were given in that transmission. However, I (the captain) was hand flying the aircraft and the first officer was programming the instructions in mode control panel. ATC commands which involve runway changes, heading change, altitude change, ILS approach change, frequency change all in the same transmission to a 2-MAN advanced technology aircraft can lead to confusion, especially to a crew either new to aircraft or airport.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLRNC CONFUSION ABOUT WHETHER ACR LGT FLT WAS CLRED TO 6000 OR 8000 FT IN DSCNT TO SLC.

Narrative: WE WERE TRACKING INTO SLC ON THE OGDEN 153 DEG RADIAL. IN SHORT ORDER, WE WERE GIVEN A HDG, ALT, AND RWY CHANGE FROM 16R TO 16L. AT THE SAME TIME WE WERE TRYING TO SLOW DOWN, CONFIGURE AND RUN THE CHKLISTS. PASSING 7700 MSL, THE CTLR TOLD US TO LEVEL AT 8000 FT. THE CAPT STOPPED THE DSCNT AND I INFORMED THE CTLR THAT WE WERE NOW AT 7500 MSL BUT WOULD CLB BACK TO 8000. THE CTLR THEN ASKED IF HE HAD GIVEN US 8000 INITIALLY. I TOLD HIM THAT WE UNDERSTOOD 6000. NOTHING MORE WAS SAID. I STILL DON'T KNOW IF WE WERE INITIALLY GIVEN 6000 OR 8000 BECAUSE NEITHER THE CAPT NOR I CAN SPECIFICALLY REMEMBER THAT INSTRUCTION. I DO KNOW THAT WITH 6000 THE GS INTERCEPT FOR 16L -- WE BELIEVED WE WERE GOING TO THE CORRECT ALT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 203278: WE BECAME PREOCCUPIED WITH REPROGRAMMING THE FMS, SELECTING, TUNING AND IDENTING THE NEW ILS FREQ, SLOWING THE ACFT DOWN, AND DSNDING THE ACFT TOWARD THE RWY. AFTER LNDG THE FO AND I DISCUSSED THE INCIDENT AND NEITHER COULD REMEMBER SPECIFICALLY ALL THE ATC COMMANDS THAT WERE GIVEN IN THAT XMISSION. HOWEVER, I (THE CAPT) WAS HAND FLYING THE ACFT AND THE FO WAS PROGRAMMING THE INSTRUCTIONS IN MODE CTL PANEL. ATC COMMANDS WHICH INVOLVE RWY CHANGES, HDG CHANGE, ALT CHANGE, ILS APCH CHANGE, FREQ CHANGE ALL IN THE SAME XMISSION TO A 2-MAN ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY ACFT CAN LEAD TO CONFUSION, ESPECIALLY TO A CREW EITHER NEW TO ACFT OR ARPT.

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.