Given a heading and altitude by ATC and when they complied, were told they were in error.

Attributes
ACN	344151
Time
Date	199608
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : aqn
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9000 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dfw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
ASRS Report	344151
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	344320
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

On the acton 4 arrival into dfw, while approaching hulen at 11000 ft, we were given a frequency change from center to approach. Upon checking in, I was given and read back, air carrier trip number, left turn to 360 degrees and descend to 6000 ft. We started our descent and at around 9000 ft the controller asked what we were doing? I responded we were in the descent to 6000 ft. Controller then directed an immediate climb to 11000 ft and a right turn to rejoin the arrival. We complied without further incident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GIVEN A HEADING AND ALT BY ATC AND WHEN THEY COMPLIED, WERE TOLD THEY WERE IN ERROR.

Narrative: ON THE ACTON 4 ARR INTO DFW, WHILE APCHING HULEN AT 11000 FT, WE WERE GIVEN A FREQ CHANGE FROM CTR TO APCH. UPON CHKING IN, I WAS GIVEN AND READ BACK, ACR TRIP NUMBER, L TURN TO 360 DEGS AND DSND TO 6000 FT. WE STARTED OUR DSCNT AND AT AROUND 9000 FT THE CTLR ASKED WHAT WE WERE DOING? I RESPONDED WE WERE IN THE DSCNT TO 6000 FT. CTLR THEN DIRECTED AN IMMEDIATE CLB TO 11000 FT AND A R TURN TO REJOIN THE ARR. WE COMPLIED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

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.