Flight crew of a MD88 overshot descent altitude due to approach controller earlier issuing lower alt...

Attributes
ACN	429570
Time
Date	199902
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mem.airport
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5500 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mem.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-600, -700, -800
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival star : wlder.wlder4
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	429570
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

While descending into mem, received clearance to descend to 4000 ft. Passing the fix clark, received clearance to turn to 180 degrees and descend to 6000 ft. At this time we were passing 5500 ft. I was flying and leveled off while the first officer asked to confirm the altitude. The controller stated 'I just sat down, he told me you were cleared to 6000 ft, now descend to 4000 ft.' no conflict was reported or observed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF A MD88 OVERSHOT DSCNT ALT DUE TO APCH CTLR EARLIER ISSUING LOWER ALT.

Narrative: WHILE DSNDING INTO MEM, RECEIVED CLRNC TO DSND TO 4000 FT. PASSING THE FIX CLARK, RECEIVED CLRNC TO TURN TO 180 DEGS AND DSND TO 6000 FT. AT THIS TIME WE WERE PASSING 5500 FT. I WAS FLYING AND LEVELED OFF WHILE THE FO ASKED TO CONFIRM THE ALT. THE CTLR STATED 'I JUST SAT DOWN, HE TOLD ME YOU WERE CLRED TO 6000 FT, NOW DSND TO 4000 FT.' NO CONFLICT WAS RPTED OR OBSERVED.

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 of a MD88 overshot descent altitude due to approach controller earlier issuing lower altitude.