ARTCC tells reporter he failed to comply with altitude assignment.

Attributes
ACN	319640
Time
Date	199510
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zny airport : lga
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 14000 msl bound upper : 15000
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	319640
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	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	other

Narrative:

Flying the lga 6 gayel transition, changed from departure control to ZNY frequency 135.65. Before first officer could initiate check in received 'air carrier XXX turn right to 360 degree climb to 15000 ft.' we acknowledged and continued climb. Shortly thereafter the controller, in a very upset voice told us to descend immediately to 1400 ft and reduce speed to 250 KTS. He said we had been assigned this clearance previously. We in no uncertain terms ever heard any such clearance. In no uncertain terms did we ever acknowledge such a clearance until after the point above described. There was a collision hazard from crossing traffic ahead and above us. Time of incident was XA57Z, ZNY frequency 135.65. The above facts have been corroborated by my crew. We found ATC's manner and methods here more than a little lacking. It appeared that the controller may have been trying to put conversation relating to an imagined clearance on the tapes in an effort to cover his rear. This is unacceptable.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ARTCC TELLS RPTR HE FAILED TO COMPLY WITH ALT ASSIGNMENT.

Narrative: FLYING THE LGA 6 GAYEL TRANSITION, CHANGED FROM DEP CTL TO ZNY FREQ 135.65. BEFORE FO COULD INITIATE CHK IN RECEIVED 'ACR XXX TURN R TO 360 DEG CLB TO 15000 FT.' WE ACKNOWLEDGED AND CONTINUED CLB. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE CTLR, IN A VERY UPSET VOICE TOLD US TO DSND IMMEDIATELY TO 1400 FT AND REDUCE SPD TO 250 KTS. HE SAID WE HAD BEEN ASSIGNED THIS CLRNC PREVIOUSLY. WE IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS EVER HEARD ANY SUCH CLRNC. IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS DID WE EVER ACKNOWLEDGE SUCH A CLRNC UNTIL AFTER THE POINT ABOVE DESCRIBED. THERE WAS A COLLISION HAZARD FROM XING TFC AHEAD AND ABOVE US. TIME OF INCIDENT WAS XA57Z, ZNY FREQ 135.65. THE ABOVE FACTS HAVE BEEN CORROBORATED BY MY CREW. WE FOUND ATC'S MANNER AND METHODS HERE MORE THAN A LITTLE LACKING. IT APPEARED THAT THE CTLR MAY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO PUT CONVERSATION RELATING TO AN IMAGINED CLRNC ON THE TAPES IN AN EFFORT TO COVER HIS REAR. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

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.