Miscom. ATC flight crew altitude deviation.

Attributes
ACN	319469
Time
Date	199510
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : hfc
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 24000 msl bound upper : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla tower : orh
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 19000 flight time type : 8270
ASRS Report	319469
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 5700
ASRS Report	319665
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were level at FL350 at about 40 NM east of hector VOR. Aircraft began a scheduled descent to FL240. The autoplt was engaged and we were in VNAV mode. 24000 ft was also selected in mode control panel. We changed frequencys to ZLA 125.72. The first officer checked in with ZLA and said, 'air carrier xyz out of FL270 for FL240 at hector.' ZLA said we were 'assigned FL290.' the first officer said, 'we were assigned FL240.' la then said, 'descend and maintain FL240.' we did, and la asked for our altitude and the first officer said, 'air carrier xyz level FL240.' after landing at burbank we were given a number to call, and I talked to ZLA. I was advised of an altitude deviation. ZLA stated we were assigned FL290 at hector, not FL240. Supplemental information from acn 319665: we were level at 35000 ft 40 mi east of hector VOR. I left center frequency 133.55 to obtain burbank ATIS. When I returned to center frequency, we were descending to 24000 ft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MISCOM. ATC FLC ALTDEV.

Narrative: WE WERE LEVEL AT FL350 AT ABOUT 40 NM E OF HECTOR VOR. ACFT BEGAN A SCHEDULED DSCNT TO FL240. THE AUTOPLT WAS ENGAGED AND WE WERE IN VNAV MODE. 24000 FT WAS ALSO SELECTED IN MODE CTL PANEL. WE CHANGED FREQS TO ZLA 125.72. THE FO CHKED IN WITH ZLA AND SAID, 'ACR XYZ OUT OF FL270 FOR FL240 AT HECTOR.' ZLA SAID WE WERE 'ASSIGNED FL290.' THE FO SAID, 'WE WERE ASSIGNED FL240.' LA THEN SAID, 'DSND AND MAINTAIN FL240.' WE DID, AND LA ASKED FOR OUR ALT AND THE FO SAID, 'ACR XYZ LEVEL FL240.' AFTER LNDG AT BURBANK WE WERE GIVEN A NUMBER TO CALL, AND I TALKED TO ZLA. I WAS ADVISED OF AN ALTDEV. ZLA STATED WE WERE ASSIGNED FL290 AT HECTOR, NOT FL240. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 319665: WE WERE LEVEL AT 35000 FT 40 MI E OF HECTOR VOR. I LEFT CTR FREQ 133.55 TO OBTAIN BURBANK ATIS. WHEN I RETURNED TO CTR FREQ, WE WERE DSNDING TO 24000 FT.

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.