Narrative:

ACARS inoperative so necessary to communication with company by voice. Recent emphasis by company on making 'in range' report 10 mins prior to arrival. Our 10 min EST occurred prior to leaving 10000 ft and I left first officer monitoring ATC and communication with company myself. When I rejoined first officer on ATC, he had received a clearance to 5000 ft and was descending with 5000 ft set in MCP altitude window. Shortly, as we turned downwind through approximately 5700 ft, approach control advised us to maintain 6000 ft. Promptly set 6000 ft in MCP altitude window and climbed to 6000 ft. Sounded as though ATC thought we were going to maintain 6000 ft all along. No mention made of conflict. No TCASII traffic, controller handed us off in a few mi and wished us a 'good day.' we had far inspector on jump seat and rigorously applied ourselves to all regulations and procedures. I believe we were cleared to 5000 ft, initially. Observer said he did not know which party erred. First officer was quite competent. Supplemental information from acn 315512: captain was not monitoring ATC while talking to company on communication 2. We were at 10000 ft. Bos gave a clearance of slow to 210 KTS. Descend to 5000 ft. 5000 ft was set in MCP window and I started the descent.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEV ALT OVERSHOOT IN DSCNT. CLRNC ACKNOWLEDGED READBACK HEARBACK. CLRNC ALT ASSIGNMENT UNCERTAIN.

Narrative: ACARS INOP SO NECESSARY TO COM WITH COMPANY BY VOICE. RECENT EMPHASIS BY COMPANY ON MAKING 'IN RANGE' RPT 10 MINS PRIOR TO ARR. OUR 10 MIN EST OCCURRED PRIOR TO LEAVING 10000 FT AND I LEFT FO MONITORING ATC AND COM WITH COMPANY MYSELF. WHEN I REJOINED FO ON ATC, HE HAD RECEIVED A CLRNC TO 5000 FT AND WAS DSNDING WITH 5000 FT SET IN MCP ALT WINDOW. SHORTLY, AS WE TURNED DOWNWIND THROUGH APPROX 5700 FT, APCH CTL ADVISED US TO MAINTAIN 6000 FT. PROMPTLY SET 6000 FT IN MCP ALT WINDOW AND CLBED TO 6000 FT. SOUNDED AS THOUGH ATC THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO MAINTAIN 6000 FT ALL ALONG. NO MENTION MADE OF CONFLICT. NO TCASII TFC, CTLR HANDED US OFF IN A FEW MI AND WISHED US A 'GOOD DAY.' WE HAD FAR INSPECTOR ON JUMP SEAT AND RIGOROUSLY APPLIED OURSELVES TO ALL REGULATIONS AND PROCS. I BELIEVE WE WERE CLRED TO 5000 FT, INITIALLY. OBSERVER SAID HE DID NOT KNOW WHICH PARTY ERRED. FO WAS QUITE COMPETENT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 315512: CAPT WAS NOT MONITORING ATC WHILE TALKING TO COMPANY ON COM 2. WE WERE AT 10000 FT. BOS GAVE A CLRNC OF SLOW TO 210 KTS. DSND TO 5000 FT. 5000 FT WAS SET IN MCP WINDOW AND I STARTED THE DSCNT.

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.