B737-300 crew misinterped clearance and started descent before ARTCC expected.

Attributes
ACN	495372
Time
Date	200012
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : avl.airport
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8500 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 2600
ASRS Report	495372
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 7500 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	495550
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

It was after 2300 hours, avl tower was closed. 28 NM southeast of keans (LOM for ILS runway 16 avl) at 10000 ft, ZTL told us to proceed to keans, expect to hold at keans, maintain 7000 ft. Captain was PF, first officer was building a holding fix at keans in the FMS. 7000 ft was read back to the controller. 7000 ft was selected in the altitude window. Captain and first officer pointed to the altitude window and said '7000 ft' (per company procedure). Level change was selected for descent. Passing 8600 ft, the, controller asked for our current altitude. The captain responded '8600 ft for 7000 ft.' the controller said 'I did not give you a new altitude.' autothrottle and autoplt were disconnected and an immediate climb started. Passing 9000 ft, the controller said 'ok, stop your descent at 8000 ft.' a descent to 8000 ft was completed. The ILS to runway 16 was flown with no further problems.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-300 CREW MISINTERPED CLRNC AND STARTED DSCNT BEFORE ARTCC EXPECTED.

Narrative: IT WAS AFTER 2300 HRS, AVL TWR WAS CLOSED. 28 NM SE OF KEANS (LOM FOR ILS RWY 16 AVL) AT 10000 FT, ZTL TOLD US TO PROCEED TO KEANS, EXPECT TO HOLD AT KEANS, MAINTAIN 7000 FT. CAPT WAS PF, FO WAS BUILDING A HOLDING FIX AT KEANS IN THE FMS. 7000 FT WAS READ BACK TO THE CTLR. 7000 FT WAS SELECTED IN THE ALT WINDOW. CAPT AND FO POINTED TO THE ALT WINDOW AND SAID '7000 FT' (PER COMPANY PROC). LEVEL CHANGE WAS SELECTED FOR DSCNT. PASSING 8600 FT, THE, CTLR ASKED FOR OUR CURRENT ALT. THE CAPT RESPONDED '8600 FT FOR 7000 FT.' THE CTLR SAID 'I DID NOT GIVE YOU A NEW ALT.' AUTOTHROTTLE AND AUTOPLT WERE DISCONNECTED AND AN IMMEDIATE CLB STARTED. PASSING 9000 FT, THE CTLR SAID 'OK, STOP YOUR DSCNT AT 8000 FT.' A DSCNT TO 8000 FT WAS COMPLETED. THE ILS TO RWY 16 WAS FLOWN WITH NO FURTHER PROBS.

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.