Narrative:

Inbound to bos on the norwich two arrival. Aircraft is set to automatic descend to cross newes at FL240, as per the arrival instructions. While waiting for clearance to descend, the controller cleared us direct raalf and to cross 40 NM southeast of raalf at FL240. I heard cross raalf at FL240 and set the aircraft to automatic descend accordingly. At 40 NM from raalf the controller asked if we had been cleared to cross 40 NM from raalf at FL240. Missed the crossing restr. Often times controllers think they are doing you a favor by clearing you direct. In fact this increases the pilot workload and can lead to misunderstandings such as this one. This altitude bust would not have occurred if the controllers would just let us fly the flight plan. What good is a flight plan anyway if the controllers are going to micro-manage the flight?

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR FLC IN AN LGT FAILS TO CROSS A NAV POINT AT THEIR ASSIGNED ALT WHEN THE CAPT MISUNDERSTANDS THE CLRNC.

Narrative: INBOUND TO BOS ON THE NORWICH TWO ARR. ACFT IS SET TO AUTO DSND TO CROSS NEWES AT FL240, AS PER THE ARR INSTRUCTIONS. WHILE WAITING FOR CLRNC TO DSND, THE CTLR CLRED US DIRECT RAALF AND TO CROSS 40 NM SE OF RAALF AT FL240. I HEARD CROSS RAALF AT FL240 AND SET THE ACFT TO AUTO DSND ACCORDINGLY. AT 40 NM FROM RAALF THE CTLR ASKED IF WE HAD BEEN CLRED TO CROSS 40 NM FROM RAALF AT FL240. MISSED THE XING RESTR. OFTEN TIMES CTLRS THINK THEY ARE DOING YOU A FAVOR BY CLRING YOU DIRECT. IN FACT THIS INCREASES THE PLT WORKLOAD AND CAN LEAD TO MISUNDERSTANDINGS SUCH AS THIS ONE. THIS ALT BUST WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED IF THE CTLRS WOULD JUST LET US FLY THE FLT PLAN. WHAT GOOD IS A FLT PLAN ANYWAY IF THE CTLRS ARE GOING TO MICRO-MANAGE THE FLT?

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.