B737-300 crew was given conflicting altitude clearance by ZBW.

Attributes
ACN	502851
Time
Date	200102
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : alb.airport
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw.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
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 14500 flight time type : 5500
ASRS Report	502851
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time total : 11000
ASRS Report	502850
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

While descending into alb (captain was PF), ZBW cleared us to 10000 ft. First officer (PNF) acknowledged this clearance to 10000 ft and I confirmed. While descending, ZBW requested 'best rate to 10000 ft,' which we acknowledged and complied with. While descending through approximately 12000 ft, we were told to change to another ZBW frequency. After a few tries, we were unable to contact ZBW and returned to our previous frequency. After contacting this controller again, he asked what our altitude was, and we stated '10300 ft descending.' he seemed to be of the impression he had cleared us to 11000 ft. We replied we had read back 10000 ft and reconfirmed it during the 'best rate' request. Center thinks he cleared us to descend to 10000 ft, said that he wasn't sure, and maybe he had cleared us to 10000 ft. Either way, he advised us this was not a problem, there were no traffic conflicts, and to contact approach. This was a non event, handed professionally, and we landed uneventfully.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-300 CREW WAS GIVEN CONFLICTING ALT CLRNC BY ZBW.

Narrative: WHILE DSNDING INTO ALB (CAPT WAS PF), ZBW CLRED US TO 10000 FT. FO (PNF) ACKNOWLEDGED THIS CLRNC TO 10000 FT AND I CONFIRMED. WHILE DSNDING, ZBW REQUESTED 'BEST RATE TO 10000 FT,' WHICH WE ACKNOWLEDGED AND COMPLIED WITH. WHILE DSNDING THROUGH APPROX 12000 FT, WE WERE TOLD TO CHANGE TO ANOTHER ZBW FREQ. AFTER A FEW TRIES, WE WERE UNABLE TO CONTACT ZBW AND RETURNED TO OUR PREVIOUS FREQ. AFTER CONTACTING THIS CTLR AGAIN, HE ASKED WHAT OUR ALT WAS, AND WE STATED '10300 FT DSNDING.' HE SEEMED TO BE OF THE IMPRESSION HE HAD CLRED US TO 11000 FT. WE REPLIED WE HAD READ BACK 10000 FT AND RECONFIRMED IT DURING THE 'BEST RATE' REQUEST. CTR THINKS HE CLRED US TO DSND TO 10000 FT, SAID THAT HE WASN'T SURE, AND MAYBE HE HAD CLRED US TO 10000 FT. EITHER WAY, HE ADVISED US THIS WAS NOT A PROB, THERE WERE NO TFC CONFLICTS, AND TO CONTACT APCH. THIS WAS A NON EVENT, HANDED PROFESSIONALLY, AND WE LANDED UNEVENTFULLY.

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.