An air carrier medium large transport was allegedly given conflicting clrncs descending into rno.

Attributes
ACN	245041
Time
Date	199306
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : fmg
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 13000 msl bound upper : 20000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zoa
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 7200
ASRS Report	245041
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 5300
ASRS Report	245766
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Flight from lax to rno. Aircraft currently descending to FL240. ZOA passed us to next controller (frequency 128.8) and we were given descent to FL200 then shortly given 'cross 30 DME south of fmg at 10000 ft, 250 KTS.' we were currently 55-60 DME south so we acknowledged and started rapid descent to make this restriction. Out of 14600 ft center asked us to 'verify altitude, you were assigned 16000 ft.' I read back the clearance that I wrote down and we were told to 'maintain 13000 ft...' long pause, 'contact rno approach 119.2.' I asked if there was a conflict and was told 'no conflict.' controller was handling sbound traffic into reno also and giving similar crossing restrictions to all. Only suggestion would be for all to listen carefully when several similar clrncs are given out. Supplemental information from acn 245766: aircraft descending on heading to intercept back course localizer 34L at rno.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR MLG WAS ALLEGEDLY GIVEN CONFLICTING CLRNCS DSNDING INTO RNO.

Narrative: FLT FROM LAX TO RNO. ACFT CURRENTLY DSNDING TO FL240. ZOA PASSED US TO NEXT CTLR (FREQ 128.8) AND WE WERE GIVEN DSCNT TO FL200 THEN SHORTLY GIVEN 'CROSS 30 DME S OF FMG AT 10000 FT, 250 KTS.' WE WERE CURRENTLY 55-60 DME S SO WE ACKNOWLEDGED AND STARTED RAPID DSCNT TO MAKE THIS RESTRICTION. OUT OF 14600 FT CTR ASKED US TO 'VERIFY ALT, YOU WERE ASSIGNED 16000 FT.' I READ BACK THE CLRNC THAT I WROTE DOWN AND WE WERE TOLD TO 'MAINTAIN 13000 FT...' LONG PAUSE, 'CONTACT RNO APCH 119.2.' I ASKED IF THERE WAS A CONFLICT AND WAS TOLD 'NO CONFLICT.' CTLR WAS HANDLING SBOUND TFC INTO RENO ALSO AND GIVING SIMILAR XING RESTRICTIONS TO ALL. ONLY SUGGESTION WOULD BE FOR ALL TO LISTEN CAREFULLY WHEN SEVERAL SIMILAR CLRNCS ARE GIVEN OUT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 245766: ACFT DSNDING ON HDG TO INTERCEPT BACK COURSE LOC 34L AT RNO.

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.