An MD80 crew, descending into slc, overshot published STAR altitude restr.

Attributes
ACN	535123
Time
Date	200201
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : myton
State Reference	UT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 15200 msl bound upper : 16000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zlc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Route In Use	arrival star : spane 4
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 125 flight time total : 15500 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	535123
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	534953
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : issued advisory flight crew : returned to assigned airspace
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airport Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation Intra Facility Coordination Failure

Narrative:

On spane 4 arrival to slc an air carrier Y airliner ahead received a clearance from ZLC to cross spane intersection at 15000 ft. Air carrier Y queried the controller since this is different from the published expected altitude on the arrival. The controller explained that this was due to a runway change at slc. 4-5 mins later, we received clearance to cross spane at 15000 ft. The first officer set and acknowledged 15000 ft and I acknowledged verbally. As we approached 15000 ft the controller said we should be level at 16000 ft. We reselected 16000 ft and leveled there promptly. The controller then indicated that 15000 ft was approved at our discretion, (but we were already level at 16000 ft). No other aircraft or terrain was involved. We may have misunderstood our altitude assignment, but there was no confusion until the 16000 ft altitude was stated by the controller. Supplemental information from acn 534953: the first officer set and captain acknowledged 15000 ft. As we approached 15000 ft the controller said we should be level at 16000 ft, but that 15000 ft was approved and we could remain there. No other aircraft were involved.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD80 CREW, DSNDING INTO SLC, OVERSHOT PUBLISHED STAR ALT RESTR.

Narrative: ON SPANE 4 ARR TO SLC AN ACR Y AIRLINER AHEAD RECEIVED A CLRNC FROM ZLC TO CROSS SPANE INTXN AT 15000 FT. ACR Y QUERIED THE CTLR SINCE THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM THE PUBLISHED EXPECTED ALT ON THE ARR. THE CTLR EXPLAINED THAT THIS WAS DUE TO A RWY CHANGE AT SLC. 4-5 MINS LATER, WE RECEIVED CLRNC TO CROSS SPANE AT 15000 FT. THE FO SET AND ACKNOWLEDGED 15000 FT AND I ACKNOWLEDGED VERBALLY. AS WE APCHED 15000 FT THE CTLR SAID WE SHOULD BE LEVEL AT 16000 FT. WE RESELECTED 16000 FT AND LEVELED THERE PROMPTLY. THE CTLR THEN INDICATED THAT 15000 FT WAS APPROVED AT OUR DISCRETION, (BUT WE WERE ALREADY LEVEL AT 16000 FT). NO OTHER ACFT OR TERRAIN WAS INVOLVED. WE MAY HAVE MISUNDERSTOOD OUR ALT ASSIGNMENT, BUT THERE WAS NO CONFUSION UNTIL THE 16000 FT ALT WAS STATED BY THE CTLR. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 534953: THE FO SET AND CAPT ACKNOWLEDGED 15000 FT. AS WE APCHED 15000 FT THE CTLR SAID WE SHOULD BE LEVEL AT 16000 FT, BUT THAT 15000 FT WAS APPROVED AND WE COULD REMAIN THERE. NO OTHER ACFT WERE INVOLVED.

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.