B757 flight crew, departing srq, is confused by conflicting ATC instructions.

Attributes
ACN	576672
Time
Date	200303
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : srq.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1800 msl bound upper : 5800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : tpa.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 17000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	576672
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

Passing 1800 ft for 3000 ft, we were handed off to tpa approach. We were cleared to 12000 ft. Passing 5800 ft, we were cleared to 4000 ft. We confirmed 4000 ft and descended to 4000 ft. We immediately received a frequency change and clearance to 12000 ft. We asked why the clearance to 12000 ft to 4000 ft to 12000 ft and were told that the previous controller 'screwed up.' normal communication procedures with an explanation for canceled clearance would have been helpful. There was no incident, but it alarms the crew for a possible conflict, and raises stress level for no reason which simple communication could have prevented.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757 FLT CREW, DEPARTING SRQ, IS CONFUSED BY CONFLICTING ATC INSTRUCTIONS.

Narrative: PASSING 1800 FT FOR 3000 FT, WE WERE HANDED OFF TO TPA APCH. WE WERE CLRED TO 12000 FT. PASSING 5800 FT, WE WERE CLRED TO 4000 FT. WE CONFIRMED 4000 FT AND DSNDED TO 4000 FT. WE IMMEDIATELY RECEIVED A FREQ CHANGE AND CLRNC TO 12000 FT. WE ASKED WHY THE CLRNC TO 12000 FT TO 4000 FT TO 12000 FT AND WERE TOLD THAT THE PREVIOUS CTLR 'SCREWED UP.' NORMAL COM PROCS WITH AN EXPLANATION FOR CANCELED CLRNC WOULD HAVE BEEN HELPFUL. THERE WAS NO INCIDENT, BUT IT ALARMS THE CREW FOR A POSSIBLE CONFLICT, AND RAISES STRESS LEVEL FOR NO REASON WHICH SIMPLE COM COULD HAVE PREVENTED.

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.