Narrative:

I was flying a cessna 421 IFR from fcm-ttn. During approach in cavu conditions I was handed off from center to phl approach control for handling into ttn. The frequency was very busy. I was at 3000 ft MSL. I was vectored a bit south of course, then cleared back to ard VOR. The controller stated 'depart yardley' and I can't remember if any further instructions were given prior to hearing '2500 ft.' I took this to mean to cross yardley at 3000 ft and then descend to 2500 ft. I was almost at yardley at the time of clearance and felt that if I were needed at 2500 ft by ard, the controller should have simply cleared me down at that time. The controller did not state 'descend and maintain 2500 ft' nor did he state 'cross yardley at 2500 ft.' I believe if I was needed to cross yardley at 2500 ft, I should have been told to 'cross' yardley at that altitude. In any case, I became concerned about this, but by then it was too late to discuss this with the controller. The frequency was busy and before I could discuss this, I was already at yardley at 3000 ft. The controller then questioned me about this and stated he had VFR traffic at 3000 ft at the VOR (holding I think). I called phl approach after landing as a courtesy (I was not told to do so) and the controller supervisor stated the controller did not mention it to him and that no report would be filed. They appreciated my call and apologized also for the confusion. I too apologized, as this was the first time in nearly 6000 hours that I ever crossed a fix at an altitude other than expected by ATC. My recommendations: if you need an aircraft to cross a fix at a certain altitude, use 'cross,' not 'depart.' I have received the aim and pilot/controller glossary and I believe this to be correct.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF AN SMT TWIN FAILED TO MAKE A XING RESTR.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING A CESSNA 421 IFR FROM FCM-TTN. DURING APCH IN CAVU CONDITIONS I WAS HANDED OFF FROM CTR TO PHL APCH CTL FOR HANDLING INTO TTN. THE FREQ WAS VERY BUSY. I WAS AT 3000 FT MSL. I WAS VECTORED A BIT S OF COURSE, THEN CLRED BACK TO ARD VOR. THE CTLR STATED 'DEPART YARDLEY' AND I CAN'T REMEMBER IF ANY FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS WERE GIVEN PRIOR TO HEARING '2500 FT.' I TOOK THIS TO MEAN TO CROSS YARDLEY AT 3000 FT AND THEN DSND TO 2500 FT. I WAS ALMOST AT YARDLEY AT THE TIME OF CLRNC AND FELT THAT IF I WERE NEEDED AT 2500 FT BY ARD, THE CTLR SHOULD HAVE SIMPLY CLRED ME DOWN AT THAT TIME. THE CTLR DID NOT STATE 'DSND AND MAINTAIN 2500 FT' NOR DID HE STATE 'CROSS YARDLEY AT 2500 FT.' I BELIEVE IF I WAS NEEDED TO CROSS YARDLEY AT 2500 FT, I SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD TO 'CROSS' YARDLEY AT THAT ALT. IN ANY CASE, I BECAME CONCERNED ABOUT THIS, BUT BY THEN IT WAS TOO LATE TO DISCUSS THIS WITH THE CTLR. THE FREQ WAS BUSY AND BEFORE I COULD DISCUSS THIS, I WAS ALREADY AT YARDLEY AT 3000 FT. THE CTLR THEN QUESTIONED ME ABOUT THIS AND STATED HE HAD VFR TFC AT 3000 FT AT THE VOR (HOLDING I THINK). I CALLED PHL APCH AFTER LNDG AS A COURTESY (I WAS NOT TOLD TO DO SO) AND THE CTLR SUPVR STATED THE CTLR DID NOT MENTION IT TO HIM AND THAT NO RPT WOULD BE FILED. THEY APPRECIATED MY CALL AND APOLOGIZED ALSO FOR THE CONFUSION. I TOO APOLOGIZED, AS THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY 6000 HRS THAT I EVER CROSSED A FIX AT AN ALT OTHER THAN EXPECTED BY ATC. MY RECOMMENDATIONS: IF YOU NEED AN ACFT TO CROSS A FIX AT A CERTAIN ALT, USE 'CROSS,' NOT 'DEPART.' I HAVE RECEIVED THE AIM AND PLT/CTLR GLOSSARY AND I BELIEVE THIS TO BE CORRECT.

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.