Flight crew misunderstood a crossing altitude clearance during descent, resulting in an altitude bus...

Attributes
ACN	418690
Time
Date	199811
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : fqm
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 25000 msl bound upper : 26000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 23000 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	418690
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Approximately 30 mi west of williamsport, we received a clearance (we thought) to cross williamsport VOR at or below FL260, cross hayed intersection (35 mi east of williamsport) at FL180. Crossing williamsport at FL250, the controller queried us as to what our clearance was. We told him what I mentioned above in this paragraph. He informed us that this was incorrect, that the clearance was to cross hayed intersection at FL180 and williamsport at FL260. He stated at that time that that is what we read back. At the time we received the clearance, the flight attendant was delivering our meals in the cockpit and taking a drink order. Whatever misunderstanding there was on my part about the clearance occurred because of a temporary distraction and my failure to question the controller to verify the clearance although believing what I heard to be correct.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC MISUNDERSTOOD A XING ALT CLRNC DURING DSCNT, RESULTING IN AN ALT BUST.

Narrative: APPROX 30 MI W OF WILLIAMSPORT, WE RECEIVED A CLRNC (WE THOUGHT) TO CROSS WILLIAMSPORT VOR AT OR BELOW FL260, CROSS HAYED INTXN (35 MI E OF WILLIAMSPORT) AT FL180. XING WILLIAMSPORT AT FL250, THE CTLR QUERIED US AS TO WHAT OUR CLRNC WAS. WE TOLD HIM WHAT I MENTIONED ABOVE IN THIS PARAGRAPH. HE INFORMED US THAT THIS WAS INCORRECT, THAT THE CLRNC WAS TO CROSS HAYED INTXN AT FL180 AND WILLIAMSPORT AT FL260. HE STATED AT THAT TIME THAT THAT IS WHAT WE READ BACK. AT THE TIME WE RECEIVED THE CLRNC, THE FLT ATTENDANT WAS DELIVERING OUR MEALS IN THE COCKPIT AND TAKING A DRINK ORDER. WHATEVER MISUNDERSTANDING THERE WAS ON MY PART ABOUT THE CLRNC OCCURRED BECAUSE OF A TEMPORARY DISTR AND MY FAILURE TO QUESTION THE CTLR TO VERIFY THE CLRNC ALTHOUGH BELIEVING WHAT I HEARD TO BE CORRECT.

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.

Flight crew misunderstood a crossing altitude clearance during descent, resulting in an altitude bust.