Narrative:

After takeoff at phl, we were cleared to iah via direct mxe, as previously cleared, maintain 10000 ft. As we approached mxe (the normal handoff point to ZNY) we asked if it was time for a frequency change and were told to standby. After passing mxe, we continued on our route, outbound on the 278 degree radial of mxe. We then were issued the following clearance: 'cleared to mxe, hold west on the 278 degree radial, left turns, 10 mi legs, maintain 1000 ft, with an expect further clearance of about 30 mins later. The first officer read back the clearance and began to enter the hold in the FMS computer. The first officer and I agreed on the holding entry procedure, but I felt sure that the holding instructions were incorrect. Frequency congestion kept us from questioning his instructions before it was time to begin the pattern entry procedure. The controller was working 3 aircraft behind us, also heading to mxe at 10000 ft, in addition to several other aircraft. As we made a r-hand turn back toward mxe to complete the entry, the controller said he cleared us for left turns in the hold. I tried to explain what we were doing, but the controller did not understand. I said that I would call him on the phone later, to explain in detail, and asked him what heading he wanted us to fly. We were given a right turn, back to the west and were handed off to center. The rest of the flight to houston was uneventful.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF AN ACR MLG ENTERED THE WRONG HOLDING PATTERN ASSIGNED BY ATC.

Narrative: AFTER TKOF AT PHL, WE WERE CLRED TO IAH VIA DIRECT MXE, AS PREVIOUSLY CLRED, MAINTAIN 10000 FT. AS WE APCHED MXE (THE NORMAL HDOF POINT TO ZNY) WE ASKED IF IT WAS TIME FOR A FREQ CHANGE AND WERE TOLD TO STANDBY. AFTER PASSING MXE, WE CONTINUED ON OUR RTE, OUTBOUND ON THE 278 DEG RADIAL OF MXE. WE THEN WERE ISSUED THE FOLLOWING CLRNC: 'CLRED TO MXE, HOLD W ON THE 278 DEG RADIAL, L TURNS, 10 MI LEGS, MAINTAIN 1000 FT, WITH AN EXPECT FURTHER CLRNC OF ABOUT 30 MINS LATER. THE FO READ BACK THE CLRNC AND BEGAN TO ENTER THE HOLD IN THE FMS COMPUTER. THE FO AND I AGREED ON THE HOLDING ENTRY PROC, BUT I FELT SURE THAT THE HOLDING INSTRUCTIONS WERE INCORRECT. FREQ CONGESTION KEPT US FROM QUESTIONING HIS INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE IT WAS TIME TO BEGIN THE PATTERN ENTRY PROC. THE CTLR WAS WORKING 3 ACFT BEHIND US, ALSO HDG TO MXE AT 10000 FT, IN ADDITION TO SEVERAL OTHER ACFT. AS WE MADE A R-HAND TURN BACK TOWARD MXE TO COMPLETE THE ENTRY, THE CTLR SAID HE CLRED US FOR L TURNS IN THE HOLD. I TRIED TO EXPLAIN WHAT WE WERE DOING, BUT THE CTLR DID NOT UNDERSTAND. I SAID THAT I WOULD CALL HIM ON THE PHONE LATER, TO EXPLAIN IN DETAIL, AND ASKED HIM WHAT HDG HE WANTED US TO FLY. WE WERE GIVEN A R TURN, BACK TO THE W AND WERE HANDED OFF TO CTR. THE REST OF THE FLT TO HOUSTON WAS UNEVENTFUL.

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.