A B727 crew, descending into ord, overshot assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	535094
Time
Date	200201
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ord.airport
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10400 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	535094
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	534940
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Controller gave a crossing restr of 40 mi southeast of ord at 10000 ft MSL. Captain read back 10000 ft and both of us pointed to and confirmed 10000 ft in the altitude alert box. Passing through 10400 ft the controller called and asked us to 'climb back up to 11000 ft.' we climbed to 11000 ft MSL and were then handed off to approach control. I don't even know if this is an incident, however, the words 'climb back up to' made me believe he thought he'd cleared us to 11000 ft instead of 10000 ft. Supplemental information from acn 534940: ZAU cleared us to cross 40 NM south of ord at 10000 ft, which is how I read the clearance back to him.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B727 CREW, DSNDING INTO ORD, OVERSHOT ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: CTLR GAVE A XING RESTR OF 40 MI SE OF ORD AT 10000 FT MSL. CAPT READ BACK 10000 FT AND BOTH OF US POINTED TO AND CONFIRMED 10000 FT IN THE ALT ALERT BOX. PASSING THROUGH 10400 FT THE CTLR CALLED AND ASKED US TO 'CLB BACK UP TO 11000 FT.' WE CLBED TO 11000 FT MSL AND WERE THEN HANDED OFF TO APCH CTL. I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THIS IS AN INCIDENT, HOWEVER, THE WORDS 'CLB BACK UP TO' MADE ME BELIEVE HE THOUGHT HE'D CLRED US TO 11000 FT INSTEAD OF 10000 FT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 534940: ZAU CLRED US TO CROSS 40 NM S OF ORD AT 10000 FT, WHICH IS HOW I READ THE CLRNC BACK TO HIM.

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.