Flight crew misunderstood 280 for FL280 instead of heading.

Attributes
ACN	449467
Time
Date	199909
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : parke
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 15000 msl bound upper : 28000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors enroute airway : j6.airway
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	449467
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
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While beginning to level off at 15000 ft MSL, first officer hand flying the aircraft on an assigned 270 degree heading and 250 KTS, ZNY gave a clearance to FL280 and intercept J6. Captain set altitude window to FL280 (we both pointed and stated 280) and set up FMS to intercept J6 at parke. Captain also read back to ATC, 'climbing to FL280 and J6.' passing 17000 ft, ZNY told us to level at 17000 ft, then stated that our clearance had actually been to 'fly heading 280 degrees and intercept J6.' this event was caused by miscom/misunderstanding. The ZNY controller may have misspoken his instructions and/or the captain and first officer of air carrier X misunderstood/heard his words. I can say that the cockpit was quiet (no conversation) due to the workload in the new york area. The headsets were on, jump seater on board with first officer's speaker up. Bottom line: there is no communication until there is understanding. If the captain's readback was different than the controller's intentions, then it should have been corrected right then. Aim standard terminology must be used, ie, 'leaving altitude and climbing to altitude.' controller should have corrected situation sooner. Controllers should only be required to work 1 frequency. Readbacks are important and they should be listened to! Also, if you are jump seating -- pay attention and help out if you can.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC MISUNDERSTOOD 280 FOR FL280 INSTEAD OF HDG.

Narrative: WHILE BEGINNING TO LEVEL OFF AT 15000 FT MSL, FO HAND FLYING THE ACFT ON AN ASSIGNED 270 DEG HDG AND 250 KTS, ZNY GAVE A CLRNC TO FL280 AND INTERCEPT J6. CAPT SET ALT WINDOW TO FL280 (WE BOTH POINTED AND STATED 280) AND SET UP FMS TO INTERCEPT J6 AT PARKE. CAPT ALSO READ BACK TO ATC, 'CLBING TO FL280 AND J6.' PASSING 17000 FT, ZNY TOLD US TO LEVEL AT 17000 FT, THEN STATED THAT OUR CLRNC HAD ACTUALLY BEEN TO 'FLY HDG 280 DEGS AND INTERCEPT J6.' THIS EVENT WAS CAUSED BY MISCOM/MISUNDERSTANDING. THE ZNY CTLR MAY HAVE MISSPOKEN HIS INSTRUCTIONS AND/OR THE CAPT AND FO OF ACR X MISUNDERSTOOD/HEARD HIS WORDS. I CAN SAY THAT THE COCKPIT WAS QUIET (NO CONVERSATION) DUE TO THE WORKLOAD IN THE NEW YORK AREA. THE HEADSETS WERE ON, JUMP SEATER ON BOARD WITH FO'S SPEAKER UP. BOTTOM LINE: THERE IS NO COM UNTIL THERE IS UNDERSTANDING. IF THE CAPT'S READBACK WAS DIFFERENT THAN THE CTLR'S INTENTIONS, THEN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CORRECTED RIGHT THEN. AIM STANDARD TERMINOLOGY MUST BE USED, IE, 'LEAVING ALT AND CLBING TO ALT.' CTLR SHOULD HAVE CORRECTED SIT SOONER. CTLRS SHOULD ONLY BE REQUIRED TO WORK 1 FREQ. READBACKS ARE IMPORTANT AND THEY SHOULD BE LISTENED TO! ALSO, IF YOU ARE JUMP SEATING -- PAY ATTN AND HELP OUT IF YOU CAN.

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.