Narrative:

We were en route from atl to phl at 29000 ft on the dupont four arrival. I was the PF at our company. When the aircraft is in range, the PNF will delegate radio control with ATC to the PF so the ATIS can be obtained and the company can be advised of our arrival. I was in charge of the #1 radio, communicating with ATC. The captain was off the frequency. We were approximately on the fak 042 degree radial 65 DME at 29000 ft. Center called, 'aircraft X, descend and maintain 14000 ft.' I responded, 'descend and maintain 14000 ft, aircraft X.' there were no further instructions or any indication of blocked communication. I thought this was reasonable because we normally expect to cross jaybo at 15000 ft. I began my descent, the captain returned to the frequency. I informed him of our descent to 14000 ft. We continued our descent. After descending nearly 7000 ft, center called with a frequency change and at that time questioned what altitude we're at. We responded, 'aircraft X descending 14000 ft.' center responded by saying, 'aircraft X I did not clear you to descend.' he told us to level at 22000 ft and gave us a frequency change. After our frequency change, the next controller gave us another descent on the arrival. We completed the remainder of the flight event free. I truly believe this was controller error due to overloading or fatigue and I did not appreciate his conduct in this matter. I would like to hear the tape if I am wrong, then I apologize, but I don't think so. I attribute this to the controller being overloaded and possibly giving our aircraft instructions that were intended for another aircraft. I also believe that ACARS in our aircraft would allow both pilot to closely monitor the radio and therefore would greatly reduce the chances of miscom.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CL65 FLT CREW IS QUESTIONED BY ZDC CTLR REGARDING DSCNT AND ASSIGNED ALT INBOUND TO PHL.

Narrative: WE WERE ENRTE FROM ATL TO PHL AT 29000 FT ON THE DUPONT FOUR ARR. I WAS THE PF AT OUR COMPANY. WHEN THE ACFT IS IN RANGE, THE PNF WILL DELEGATE RADIO CTL WITH ATC TO THE PF SO THE ATIS CAN BE OBTAINED AND THE COMPANY CAN BE ADVISED OF OUR ARR. I WAS IN CHARGE OF THE #1 RADIO, COMMUNICATING WITH ATC. THE CAPT WAS OFF THE FREQ. WE WERE APPROX ON THE FAK 042 DEG RADIAL 65 DME AT 29000 FT. CTR CALLED, 'ACFT X, DSND AND MAINTAIN 14000 FT.' I RESPONDED, 'DSND AND MAINTAIN 14000 FT, ACFT X.' THERE WERE NO FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS OR ANY INDICATION OF BLOCKED COM. I THOUGHT THIS WAS REASONABLE BECAUSE WE NORMALLY EXPECT TO CROSS JAYBO AT 15000 FT. I BEGAN MY DSCNT, THE CAPT RETURNED TO THE FREQ. I INFORMED HIM OF OUR DSCNT TO 14000 FT. WE CONTINUED OUR DSCNT. AFTER DSNDING NEARLY 7000 FT, CTR CALLED WITH A FREQ CHANGE AND AT THAT TIME QUESTIONED WHAT ALT WE'RE AT. WE RESPONDED, 'ACFT X DSNDING 14000 FT.' CTR RESPONDED BY SAYING, 'ACFT X I DID NOT CLR YOU TO DSND.' HE TOLD US TO LEVEL AT 22000 FT AND GAVE US A FREQ CHANGE. AFTER OUR FREQ CHANGE, THE NEXT CTLR GAVE US ANOTHER DSCNT ON THE ARR. WE COMPLETED THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT EVENT FREE. I TRULY BELIEVE THIS WAS CTLR ERROR DUE TO OVERLOADING OR FATIGUE AND I DID NOT APPRECIATE HIS CONDUCT IN THIS MATTER. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THE TAPE IF I AM WRONG, THEN I APOLOGIZE, BUT I DON'T THINK SO. I ATTRIBUTE THIS TO THE CTLR BEING OVERLOADED AND POSSIBLY GIVING OUR ACFT INSTRUCTIONS THAT WERE INTENDED FOR ANOTHER ACFT. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT ACARS IN OUR ACFT WOULD ALLOW BOTH PLT TO CLOSELY MONITOR THE RADIO AND THEREFORE WOULD GREATLY REDUCE THE CHANCES OF MISCOM.

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.