Non adherence to ATC clearance instruction.

Attributes
ACN	261932
Time
Date	199401
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : spa
State Reference	SC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 22000 msl bound upper : 24000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 130 flight time total : 4900 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	261932
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
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:

The center controller gave us instruction which I (first officer) clearly could not understand. The captain initially understood and read back the clearance as climb to FL260 (from FL220) and intercept the spa VOR 059 degree radial inbound. As we approached FL240 the controller instructed us to descend and maintain FL220. I asked if the initial clearance was to climb to FL260 and he responded no. It was a 260 degree heading to intercept the radial inbound. I believe in the future I am going to make sure both of us hears the clearance distinctly and question anything that seems odd.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NON ADHERENCE TO ATC CLRNC INSTRUCTION.

Narrative: THE CTR CTLR GAVE US INSTRUCTION WHICH I (FO) CLRLY COULD NOT UNDERSTAND. THE CAPT INITIALLY UNDERSTOOD AND READ BACK THE CLRNC AS CLB TO FL260 (FROM FL220) AND INTERCEPT THE SPA VOR 059 DEG RADIAL INBOUND. AS WE APPROACHED FL240 THE CTLR INSTRUCTED US TO DSND AND MAINTAIN FL220. I ASKED IF THE INITIAL CLRNC WAS TO CLB TO FL260 AND HE RESPONDED NO. IT WAS A 260 DEG HDG TO INTERCEPT THE RADIAL INBOUND. I BELIEVE IN THE FUTURE I AM GOING TO MAKE SURE BOTH OF US HEARS THE CLRNC DISTINCTLY AND QUESTION ANYTHING THAT SEEMS ODD.

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.