S80 misinterps clearance descending through assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	445180
Time
Date	199908
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : ric.vortac
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 30000 msl bound upper : 37000
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	445180
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : issued advisory flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

At FL370, cleared to cross 85 mi south of ric at FL270. Told by ATC to descend now to FL310. Continued descent through FL310 to make crossing restr. At FL300, ATC said to climb back to FL310 and that further clearance to descend to FL270 was to be expected.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: S80 MISINTERPS CLRNC DSNDING THROUGH ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: AT FL370, CLRED TO CROSS 85 MI S OF RIC AT FL270. TOLD BY ATC TO DSND NOW TO FL310. CONTINUED DSCNT THROUGH FL310 TO MAKE XING RESTR. AT FL300, ATC SAID TO CLB BACK TO FL310 AND THAT FURTHER CLRNC TO DSND TO FL270 WAS TO BE EXPECTED.

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.