An experienced private pilot in a baron 55E reported on hearback readback problems with TRACON.

Attributes
ACN	474723
Time
Date	200006
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dca.tracon
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9000 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Rain
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dca.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Baron 55/Cochise
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 54 flight time total : 2766 flight time type : 125
ASRS Report	747723
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	observation : passenger
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure
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:

I was in IMC at 9000 ft and requested 11000 ft to get on top of clouds. I believed that the controller cleared me to 11000 ft (as did my passenger). When I got to 11000 ft, the controller stated that she did not clear me to 11000 ft, but only to 10000 ft due to crossing traffic. (Controller never mentioned crossing traffic.) I also read back 11000 ft and was not corrected. I asked if she wanted me to descend back to 10000 ft and she did not, leading me to believe that there was no conflict. I twice asked the controller for her initials and telephone number and she refused to respond. Controller was very busy and did not seem to be handling the workload very well. Perhaps she did clear me only to 10000 ft. Only a review of the tape could answer the question for sure.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN EXPERIENCED PVT PLT IN A BARON 55E RPTED ON HEARBACK READBACK PROBS WITH TRACON.

Narrative: I WAS IN IMC AT 9000 FT AND REQUESTED 11000 FT TO GET ON TOP OF CLOUDS. I BELIEVED THAT THE CTLR CLRED ME TO 11000 FT (AS DID MY PAX). WHEN I GOT TO 11000 FT, THE CTLR STATED THAT SHE DID NOT CLR ME TO 11000 FT, BUT ONLY TO 10000 FT DUE TO XING TFC. (CTLR NEVER MENTIONED XING TFC.) I ALSO READ BACK 11000 FT AND WAS NOT CORRECTED. I ASKED IF SHE WANTED ME TO DSND BACK TO 10000 FT AND SHE DID NOT, LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS NO CONFLICT. I TWICE ASKED THE CTLR FOR HER INITIALS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER AND SHE REFUSED TO RESPOND. CTLR WAS VERY BUSY AND DID NOT SEEM TO BE HANDLING THE WORKLOAD VERY WELL. PERHAPS SHE DID CLR ME ONLY TO 10000 FT. ONLY A REVIEW OF THE TAPE COULD ANSWER THE QUESTION FOR SURE.

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.