Narrative:

Level flight at 7000 ft MSL. PNF was off communication #1 talking to company for the in-range call. I was covering communication #2 when ATC told us to descend to 2500 ft MSL. I acknowledged with a readback including the altitude (2500 ft) and call sign. The first officer and I both pointed to the alerter and said 2500 ft aloud. Through 5600 ft, mke said maintain 6000 ft. I said 'that was for our call sign?' mke said 'yes, I show you out at 7000 ft.' I said, 'yes, you assigned us 2500 ft.' mke told me he couldn't have because that's below his MVA. He then said to maintain 5000 ft. He verified next that we were on a 250 degree heading, which I confirmed. He thought maybe that was the confusion, but I remember both distinctly. Our position of approximately 12 NM northeast was for a left downwind for runway 7R. There was not any traffic on our TCASII within 5 NM or 2000 ft. Nothing further was said, and the event ended with a short visual approach and landing. This was our first leg of the day, we both felt great because of the exceptional WX. The fact that I read back a clearance with nothing further said, indicated I was properly following instructions. Most of the time the PNF is talking on communication #1, but unfortunately he was off when this occurred. I'm, at a loss for suggestions as everything was routine, and without listening to the tapes I may be missing a piece of the situation.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A COMMUTER FLC DSNDS BELOW THEIR CLRED ALT AND THE APCH CTLR CORRECTS THEM AND ISSUES A NEW CLRNC. LTT.

Narrative: LEVEL FLT AT 7000 FT MSL. PNF WAS OFF COM #1 TALKING TO COMPANY FOR THE IN-RANGE CALL. I WAS COVERING COM #2 WHEN ATC TOLD US TO DSND TO 2500 FT MSL. I ACKNOWLEDGED WITH A READBACK INCLUDING THE ALT (2500 FT) AND CALL SIGN. THE FO AND I BOTH POINTED TO THE ALERTER AND SAID 2500 FT ALOUD. THROUGH 5600 FT, MKE SAID MAINTAIN 6000 FT. I SAID 'THAT WAS FOR OUR CALL SIGN?' MKE SAID 'YES, I SHOW YOU OUT AT 7000 FT.' I SAID, 'YES, YOU ASSIGNED US 2500 FT.' MKE TOLD ME HE COULDN'T HAVE BECAUSE THAT'S BELOW HIS MVA. HE THEN SAID TO MAINTAIN 5000 FT. HE VERIFIED NEXT THAT WE WERE ON A 250 DEG HDG, WHICH I CONFIRMED. HE THOUGHT MAYBE THAT WAS THE CONFUSION, BUT I REMEMBER BOTH DISTINCTLY. OUR POS OF APPROX 12 NM NE WAS FOR A L DOWNWIND FOR RWY 7R. THERE WAS NOT ANY TFC ON OUR TCASII WITHIN 5 NM OR 2000 FT. NOTHING FURTHER WAS SAID, AND THE EVENT ENDED WITH A SHORT VISUAL APCH AND LNDG. THIS WAS OUR FIRST LEG OF THE DAY, WE BOTH FELT GREAT BECAUSE OF THE EXCEPTIONAL WX. THE FACT THAT I READ BACK A CLRNC WITH NOTHING FURTHER SAID, INDICATED I WAS PROPERLY FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS. MOST OF THE TIME THE PNF IS TALKING ON COM #1, BUT UNFORTUNATELY HE WAS OFF WHEN THIS OCCURRED. I'M, AT A LOSS FOR SUGGESTIONS AS EVERYTHING WAS ROUTINE, AND WITHOUT LISTENING TO THE TAPES I MAY BE MISSING A PIECE OF THE SIT.

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.