Lj-31 pilot was told to expedite descent, when he was never cleared to descend in the first place.

Attributes
ACN	519300
Time
Date	200107
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : vhp.vortac
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl single value : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : egll.tower
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Learjet 31
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 4200 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	519300
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence other other anomaly other
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : investigated faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 18000 vertical : 1000
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

On descent into ind, ZID controller cleared aircraft X to 11000 ft, and gave frequency change to ind approach control. On initial check on with approach control, we checked on at 11000 ft and that we had ATIS information. The approach controller replied with directions for us to proceed direct to brichyard VOR (vhp) and to expect vectors for the ILS runway 5L at ind. Shortly after receiving that clearance, the controller came back on giving clearance to another aircraft. Approximately 1 min to 1 min 30 seconds after we had received our clearance to vhp, the controller came back to us issuing the clearance 'turn left heading 180 degrees and expedite descent.' I then replied 'left turn 180 degrees and expedite descent to what? We haven't been given a descent.' the controller replied 'to 10000 ft.' after rolling out on the 180 degree heading and leveling at 10000 ft, I looked out the right side and saw an aircraft approximately 3-4 mi passing behind the right wing. I then told the PF I had traffic off the right side and it was no factor. We were then handed off to the next approach controller who gave us further descent and heading change for vectors visual runway 5L, and made a normal landing. At no time was traffic ever called out to us. After spending approximately 45 mins on the ground at ind, we received our IFR clearance to our final destination. On final descent into rog (razorback), approach advised us that we were to call ind approach. This was the first indication of a problem we received.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LJ-31 PLT WAS TOLD TO EXPEDITE DSCNT, WHEN HE WAS NEVER CLRED TO DSND IN THE FIRST PLACE.

Narrative: ON DSCNT INTO IND, ZID CTLR CLRED ACFT X TO 11000 FT, AND GAVE FREQ CHANGE TO IND APCH CTL. ON INITIAL CHK ON WITH APCH CTL, WE CHKED ON AT 11000 FT AND THAT WE HAD ATIS INFO. THE APCH CTLR REPLIED WITH DIRECTIONS FOR US TO PROCEED DIRECT TO BRICHYARD VOR (VHP) AND TO EXPECT VECTORS FOR THE ILS RWY 5L AT IND. SHORTLY AFTER RECEIVING THAT CLRNC, THE CTLR CAME BACK ON GIVING CLRNC TO ANOTHER ACFT. APPROX 1 MIN TO 1 MIN 30 SECONDS AFTER WE HAD RECEIVED OUR CLRNC TO VHP, THE CTLR CAME BACK TO US ISSUING THE CLRNC 'TURN L HDG 180 DEGS AND EXPEDITE DSCNT.' I THEN REPLIED 'L TURN 180 DEGS AND EXPEDITE DSCNT TO WHAT? WE HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN A DSCNT.' THE CTLR REPLIED 'TO 10000 FT.' AFTER ROLLING OUT ON THE 180 DEG HDG AND LEVELING AT 10000 FT, I LOOKED OUT THE R SIDE AND SAW AN ACFT APPROX 3-4 MI PASSING BEHIND THE R WING. I THEN TOLD THE PF I HAD TFC OFF THE R SIDE AND IT WAS NO FACTOR. WE WERE THEN HANDED OFF TO THE NEXT APCH CTLR WHO GAVE US FURTHER DSCNT AND HDG CHANGE FOR VECTORS VISUAL RWY 5L, AND MADE A NORMAL LNDG. AT NO TIME WAS TFC EVER CALLED OUT TO US. AFTER SPENDING APPROX 45 MINS ON THE GND AT IND, WE RECEIVED OUR IFR CLRNC TO OUR FINAL DEST. ON FINAL DSCNT INTO ROG (RAZORBACK), APCH ADVISED US THAT WE WERE TO CALL IND APCH. THIS WAS THE FIRST INDICATION OF A PROB WE RECEIVED.

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.