ATC assigned an altitude and then becomes confused about what the assignment is.

Attributes
ACN	452080
Time
Date	199910
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lex.airport
State Reference	KY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 9500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : lex.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 3900 flight time type : 1050
ASRS Report	452080
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	452083
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

Flight was filed at 10000 ft. Clearance delivery (on ground) issued clearance to climb to 6000 ft, expect 8000 ft 10 mins after. On climb out from lex, departure control issued clearance to climb and maintain 10000 ft. PNF read back clearance to 10000 ft, first officer entered 10000 ft in altitude alert window and verbally confirmed 10000 ft and so verbally confirmed 10000 ft clearance. Passing through approximately 9500 ft MSL, controller stated that flight should be at 8000 ft. PNF stated to the controller that (the flight) had been cleared to 10000 ft. After a brief pause, the controller cleared the flight to descend to 8000 ft. The flight immediately complied. Supplemental information from acn 452083: I'm positive of the clearance to 10000 ft by departure. Suspect ATC error. No other radio traffic at the time, so I'm sure the clearance was for our flight. I suspect controller meant to clear us to 8000 ft and saw our flight plan for 10000 ft and cleared us to 10000 ft. No known traffic conflict or loss of separation occurred.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC ASSIGNED AN ALT AND THEN BECOMES CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT THE ASSIGNMENT IS.

Narrative: FLT WAS FILED AT 10000 FT. CLRNC DELIVERY (ON GND) ISSUED CLRNC TO CLB TO 6000 FT, EXPECT 8000 FT 10 MINS AFTER. ON CLBOUT FROM LEX, DEP CTL ISSUED CLRNC TO CLB AND MAINTAIN 10000 FT. PNF READ BACK CLRNC TO 10000 FT, FO ENTERED 10000 FT IN ALT ALERT WINDOW AND VERBALLY CONFIRMED 10000 FT AND SO VERBALLY CONFIRMED 10000 FT CLRNC. PASSING THROUGH APPROX 9500 FT MSL, CTLR STATED THAT FLT SHOULD BE AT 8000 FT. PNF STATED TO THE CTLR THAT (THE FLT) HAD BEEN CLRED TO 10000 FT. AFTER A BRIEF PAUSE, THE CTLR CLRED THE FLT TO DSND TO 8000 FT. THE FLT IMMEDIATELY COMPLIED. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 452083: I'M POSITIVE OF THE CLRNC TO 10000 FT BY DEP. SUSPECT ATC ERROR. NO OTHER RADIO TFC AT THE TIME, SO I'M SURE THE CLRNC WAS FOR OUR FLT. I SUSPECT CTLR MEANT TO CLR US TO 8000 FT AND SAW OUR FLT PLAN FOR 10000 FT AND CLRED US TO 10000 FT. NO KNOWN TFC CONFLICT OR LOSS OF SEPARATION OCCURRED.

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.