Flight crew of A300 misunderstood ATC airspeed assignment of 250 KTS as an altitude assignment of FL250. Began descent but were stopped by alert controller.

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Attributes
ACN	584990
Time
Date	200306
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : paleo
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl single value : 27000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : dylan
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	584990
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 550
ASRS Report	584943
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : company policies non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After holding at paleo intersection on dylan arrival to ewr, we were given clearance to 'go direct to kerno, resume dylan two arrival to ewr maintain 250.' he then handed us off to another sector controller. Upon checking in we advised sector controller we were leaving FL270 for FL250. He stated he wanted speed of 250 KTS not FL250. We leveled off at 26700 ft and immediately corrected back to FL270. Previous controller's language led us to believe that he wanted us to descend to FL250 not 250 KTS.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF A300 MISUNDERSTOOD ATC AIRSPD ASSIGNMENT OF 250 KTS AS AN ALT ASSIGNMENT OF FL250. BEGAN DSCNT BUT WERE STOPPED BY ALERT CTLR.

Narrative: AFTER HOLDING AT PALEO INTXN ON DYLAN ARR TO EWR, WE WERE GIVEN CLRNC TO 'GO DIRECT TO KERNO, RESUME DYLAN TWO ARR TO EWR MAINTAIN 250.' HE THEN HANDED US OFF TO ANOTHER SECTOR CTLR. UPON CHKING IN WE ADVISED SECTOR CTLR WE WERE LEAVING FL270 FOR FL250. HE STATED HE WANTED SPD OF 250 KTS NOT FL250. WE LEVELED OFF AT 26700 FT AND IMMEDIATELY CORRECTED BACK TO FL270. PREVIOUS CTLR'S LANGUAGE LED US TO BELIEVE THAT HE WANTED US TO DSND TO FL250 NOT 250 KTS.

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.