Light transport aircraft given 4000 ft clearance, controller then says he thought he gave them 5000 ...

Attributes
ACN	327370
Time
Date	199602
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dfw
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dfw
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 : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 155 flight time total : 6727 flight time type : 192
ASRS Report	327370
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We were being vectored for an approach to runway 18R at dfw. I was PNF, and approximately 10 mins prior to landing, I told the first officer I was leaving the frequency to call 'in-range' to our company. I returned to hear the controller say 'descend to 4000 ft.' my first officer answered the controller 'leaving 6000 ft for 4000 ft' and our call sign. Passing through approximately 4500 ft, the controller told us to climb to 5000 ft and make a 60 degree right turn. He then questioned what altitude we were cleared to. I replied 4000 ft. He stated he 'thought' we were cleared to 5000 ft and proceeded to re-vector us for the approach. He then told us that there was no traffic conflict (we were TCASII equipped and agreed) and then handed us off to the final controller. I would say one way to possibly avoid this in the future would be for the PNF (me) to take care of the non essential work (ie, calling 'in-range') before we get busy in the cockpit. However, I did return to hear the controller assign us 4000 ft, so both the first officer and I believe the error was on the part of the controller who seemed unusually busy at the time.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LTT ACFT GIVEN 4000 FT CLRNC, CTLR THEN SAYS HE THOUGHT HE GAVE THEM 5000 FT.

Narrative: WE WERE BEING VECTORED FOR AN APCH TO RWY 18R AT DFW. I WAS PNF, AND APPROX 10 MINS PRIOR TO LNDG, I TOLD THE FO I WAS LEAVING THE FREQ TO CALL 'IN-RANGE' TO OUR COMPANY. I RETURNED TO HEAR THE CTLR SAY 'DSND TO 4000 FT.' MY FO ANSWERED THE CTLR 'LEAVING 6000 FT FOR 4000 FT' AND OUR CALL SIGN. PASSING THROUGH APPROX 4500 FT, THE CTLR TOLD US TO CLB TO 5000 FT AND MAKE A 60 DEG R TURN. HE THEN QUESTIONED WHAT ALT WE WERE CLRED TO. I REPLIED 4000 FT. HE STATED HE 'THOUGHT' WE WERE CLRED TO 5000 FT AND PROCEEDED TO RE-VECTOR US FOR THE APCH. HE THEN TOLD US THAT THERE WAS NO TFC CONFLICT (WE WERE TCASII EQUIPPED AND AGREED) AND THEN HANDED US OFF TO THE FINAL CTLR. I WOULD SAY ONE WAY TO POSSIBLY AVOID THIS IN THE FUTURE WOULD BE FOR THE PNF (ME) TO TAKE CARE OF THE NON ESSENTIAL WORK (IE, CALLING 'IN-RANGE') BEFORE WE GET BUSY IN THE COCKPIT. HOWEVER, I DID RETURN TO HEAR THE CTLR ASSIGN US 4000 FT, SO BOTH THE FO AND I BELIEVE THE ERROR WAS ON THE PART OF THE CTLR WHO SEEMED UNUSUALLY BUSY AT THE TIME.

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.

Light transport aircraft given 4000 ft clearance, controller then says he thought he gave them 5000 ft.