Captain of a lear jet 31 started descending from cruise altitude after ARTCC radar controller gave him a heading change only for traffic separation. The controller noticed him descending and intervened to send him back to assigned altitude.

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Attributes
ACN	421670
Time
Date	199812
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : aus
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 25600 msl bound upper : 26000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Learjet 31
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zhu
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 900
ASRS Report	421670
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

In level flight at FL260, was given a turn to 275 degrees for a descent. I misunderstood clearance and read back 'FL270 and descend to FL240.' no descent clearance was given (?). Copilot was off frequency obtaining ATIS for landing. The en route controller advised me to go back up to FL260. I was 400 ft low at that time. I think the controller was giving me a traffic call at FL240 when he gave me the heading change. We were distraction by loading new changes in navaids for austin in our FMS, with an inexperienced (on FMS) copilot. This may be why I was distraction to point of missing the proper clearance. I feel positive I read back the descent to FL240.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF A LEAR JET 31 STARTED DSNDING FROM CRUISE ALT AFTER ARTCC RADAR CTLR GAVE HIM A HDG CHANGE ONLY FOR TFC SEPARATION. THE CTLR NOTICED HIM DSNDING AND INTERVENED TO SEND HIM BACK TO ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: IN LEVEL FLT AT FL260, WAS GIVEN A TURN TO 275 DEGS FOR A DSCNT. I MISUNDERSTOOD CLRNC AND READ BACK 'FL270 AND DSND TO FL240.' NO DSCNT CLRNC WAS GIVEN (?). COPLT WAS OFF FREQ OBTAINING ATIS FOR LNDG. THE ENRTE CTLR ADVISED ME TO GO BACK UP TO FL260. I WAS 400 FT LOW AT THAT TIME. I THINK THE CTLR WAS GIVING ME A TFC CALL AT FL240 WHEN HE GAVE ME THE HDG CHANGE. WE WERE DISTR BY LOADING NEW CHANGES IN NAVAIDS FOR AUSTIN IN OUR FMS, WITH AN INEXPERIENCED (ON FMS) COPLT. THIS MAY BE WHY I WAS DISTR TO POINT OF MISSING THE PROPER CLRNC. I FEEL POSITIVE I READ BACK THE DSCNT TO FL240.

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.