Altitude deviation.

Attributes
ACN	297270
Time
Date	199502
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : cle
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28000 msl bound upper : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 6500 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	297270
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation Intra Facility Coordination Failure

Narrative:

We were cruising at FL330 and ATC directed a descent to FL280. The captain changed the altitude window to FL280 and reprogrammed the FMS. As we passed FL290, ZOB directed a frequency change. I changed frequency and checked in with 'checking in, leveling FL280.' the new controller said 'the previous controller said he sent you to FL290 and that's where I need you.' I acknowledged and we climbed back up to FL290. The controller did not indicate that any traffic conflict had occurred. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter flies the md-88 for a major united states international air carrier. He states 'as far as I can tell, we did not make an error.' the incident happened on the exchange from one controller to another within ZOB. Both pilots were sure that they were assigned FL280 by the first controller. The second controller sounded inconvenienced but not angry. The captain's response to the notion that they were off altitude, within the cockpit, was 'bs!'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV.

Narrative: WE WERE CRUISING AT FL330 AND ATC DIRECTED A DSCNT TO FL280. THE CAPT CHANGED THE ALT WINDOW TO FL280 AND REPROGRAMMED THE FMS. AS WE PASSED FL290, ZOB DIRECTED A FREQ CHANGE. I CHANGED FREQ AND CHKED IN WITH 'CHKING IN, LEVELING FL280.' THE NEW CTLR SAID 'THE PREVIOUS CTLR SAID HE SENT YOU TO FL290 AND THAT'S WHERE I NEED YOU.' I ACKNOWLEDGED AND WE CLBED BACK UP TO FL290. THE CTLR DID NOT INDICATE THAT ANY TFC CONFLICT HAD OCCURRED. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR FLIES THE MD-88 FOR A MAJOR UNITED STATES INTL ACR. HE STATES 'AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, WE DID NOT MAKE AN ERROR.' THE INCIDENT HAPPENED ON THE EXCHANGE FROM ONE CTLR TO ANOTHER WITHIN ZOB. BOTH PLTS WERE SURE THAT THEY WERE ASSIGNED FL280 BY THE FIRST CTLR. THE SECOND CTLR SOUNDED INCONVENIENCED BUT NOT ANGRY. THE CAPT'S RESPONSE TO THE NOTION THAT THEY WERE OFF ALT, WITHIN THE COCKPIT, WAS 'BS!'

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.