ZNY controller is confused with altitude versus airspeed assignment.

Attributes
ACN	578758
Time
Date	200304
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : psb.vortac
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28000 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other other other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level cruise : enroute altitude change
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 : 24000 flight time type : 11000
ASRS Report	578758
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Intra Facility Coordination Failure

Narrative:

Aircraft X, ewr to san, on ZNY, we were cleared to climb to FL310 with speed restr to 280 KTS. On assignment to the next ZNY frequency, we were requested to give the next sector our assigned speed of 280 KTS, when I checked in with that sector, which was very congested. I reported 'climbing to FL310, 280 KT speed assigned.' after several mins, I called the controller back to ask for normal speed and the controller asked when we had been cleared from FL280 to FL310. I replied that the previous controller had cleared us to FL310 with a 280 KT speed restr. I think the 280 KTS was confused with a FL280 clearance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZNY CTLR IS CONFUSED WITH ALT VERSUS AIRSPD ASSIGNMENT.

Narrative: ACFT X, EWR TO SAN, ON ZNY, WE WERE CLRED TO CLB TO FL310 WITH SPD RESTR TO 280 KTS. ON ASSIGNMENT TO THE NEXT ZNY FREQ, WE WERE REQUESTED TO GIVE THE NEXT SECTOR OUR ASSIGNED SPD OF 280 KTS, WHEN I CHKED IN WITH THAT SECTOR, WHICH WAS VERY CONGESTED. I RPTED 'CLBING TO FL310, 280 KT SPD ASSIGNED.' AFTER SEVERAL MINS, I CALLED THE CTLR BACK TO ASK FOR NORMAL SPD AND THE CTLR ASKED WHEN WE HAD BEEN CLRED FROM FL280 TO FL310. I REPLIED THAT THE PREVIOUS CTLR HAD CLRED US TO FL310 WITH A 280 KT SPD RESTR. I THINK THE 280 KTS WAS CONFUSED WITH A FL280 CLRNC.

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.