After being told to expect 9000 ft when 10000 ft is normal for the route, a crew is surprised to be ...

Attributes
ACN	507900
Time
Date	200104
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : msn.airport
State Reference	WI
Altitude	msl single value : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-81
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	507900
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

When we received clearance on ground, we were told to expect 9000 ft (flight was short, msn-mke). Normally we ask for 10000 ft. Made a mental note to ask for 10000 ft on climb out from approach. When handed over to approach, told to climb and maintain 10000 ft. Thought 'good, now I don't even need to ask.' (I've had this happen before on this leg.) just prior to being handed off to mke approach, controller says something to the effect of 'aircraft X, I guess you guys want 10000 ft now?' I responded with 'prior controller gave us 10000 ft.' (no frequency change had occurred but voice sounded different.) the controller responded 'not from me you didn't' and then told us to maintain 10000 ft. The first officer (who is a captain, check airman and maintaining right seat currency on this leg) and I were both positive we heard 10000 ft. I don't want to read too much into voice inflections, but the controller sounded defensive when he said 'not from me you didn't.' sure would be nice to hear the tape. Obviously, somebody either heard or said the wrong thing. Apparently and fortunately there seems to have been no conflict.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AFTER BEING TOLD TO EXPECT 9000 FT WHEN 10000 FT IS NORMAL FOR THE RTE, A CREW IS SURPRISED TO BE ASSIGNED 10000 FT WHEN HANDED OFF TO THE TRACON AND MORE SURPRISED WHEN THE CTLR DENIES 'EVER GIVING THEM THAT ALT' IN A LATER CONVERSATION.

Narrative: WHEN WE RECEIVED CLRNC ON GND, WE WERE TOLD TO EXPECT 9000 FT (FLT WAS SHORT, MSN-MKE). NORMALLY WE ASK FOR 10000 FT. MADE A MENTAL NOTE TO ASK FOR 10000 FT ON CLBOUT FROM APCH. WHEN HANDED OVER TO APCH, TOLD TO CLB AND MAINTAIN 10000 FT. THOUGHT 'GOOD, NOW I DON'T EVEN NEED TO ASK.' (I'VE HAD THIS HAPPEN BEFORE ON THIS LEG.) JUST PRIOR TO BEING HANDED OFF TO MKE APCH, CTLR SAYS SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF 'ACFT X, I GUESS YOU GUYS WANT 10000 FT NOW?' I RESPONDED WITH 'PRIOR CTLR GAVE US 10000 FT.' (NO FREQ CHANGE HAD OCCURRED BUT VOICE SOUNDED DIFFERENT.) THE CTLR RESPONDED 'NOT FROM ME YOU DIDN'T' AND THEN TOLD US TO MAINTAIN 10000 FT. THE FO (WHO IS A CAPT, CHK AIRMAN AND MAINTAINING R SEAT CURRENCY ON THIS LEG) AND I WERE BOTH POSITIVE WE HEARD 10000 FT. I DON'T WANT TO READ TOO MUCH INTO VOICE INFLECTIONS, BUT THE CTLR SOUNDED DEFENSIVE WHEN HE SAID 'NOT FROM ME YOU DIDN'T.' SURE WOULD BE NICE TO HEAR THE TAPE. OBVIOUSLY, SOMEBODY EITHER HEARD OR SAID THE WRONG THING. APPARENTLY AND FORTUNATELY THERE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN NO CONFLICT.

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.

After being told to expect 9000 ft when 10000 ft is normal for the route, a crew is surprised to be assigned 10000 ft when handed off to the TRACON and more surprised when the controller denies 'ever giving them that altitude' in a later conversation.