S80 levels 1000 ft below assigned altitude near mkg -- disputed.

Attributes
ACN	444930
Time
Date	199907
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : mkg.vortac
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 22000 msl bound upper : 23000
Environment
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
ASRS Report	444930
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

Ord. Location: mkg, 090 degree radial, 40 NM. Descended to FL220 were level for 3-4 mins. Center then called and asked our altitude. Center said we were assigned FL230 not FL220, but close enough. He seemed very casual and we were told to switch to ZOB and remain at FL220. TCASII was clear to traffic in 40 NM ring.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: S80 LEVELS 1000 FT BELOW ASSIGNED ALT NEAR MKG -- DISPUTED.

Narrative: ORD. LOCATION: MKG, 090 DEG RADIAL, 40 NM. DSNDED TO FL220 WERE LEVEL FOR 3-4 MINS. CTR THEN CALLED AND ASKED OUR ALT. CTR SAID WE WERE ASSIGNED FL230 NOT FL220, BUT CLOSE ENOUGH. HE SEEMED VERY CASUAL AND WE WERE TOLD TO SWITCH TO ZOB AND REMAIN AT FL220. TCASII WAS CLR TO TFC IN 40 NM RING.

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.