B190 crew misinterped altitude instructions from ZKC radar controller and descend below assigned alt...

Attributes
ACN	612066
Time
Date	200403
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : mci.vortac
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 13000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Beech 1900
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Beech 1900
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 260 flight time total : 595 flight time type : 260
ASRS Report	612066
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 270 flight time total : 4300 flight time type : 2700
ASRS Report	612065
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar mode c aircraft equipment : tcas other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : issued advisory flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 12000 vertical : 200
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

ZKC informed us to 'expect direct kansas city and cross 40 NM from kansas city at 7000 ft.' he then added, 'go down to 13000 ft for now.' we began descending from FL230. Later, center said 'cleared direct kansas city.' the captain and I both understood the crossing restr to still be in effect and interpreted this clearance to be in conjunction with that restr while continuing to descend. ATC issued a TA '11:30 O'clock position, 12000 ft, opposite direction.' captain responded 'looking for the traffic.' neither of us could see the traffic visually. Finally, ATC inquired as to our altitude. Captain read back our instructions to cross 40 DME at 7000 ft. ATC said we were supposed to remain at 13000 ft. He then added, 'too late now.' the traffic then reported us 'in sight.' one reason for the occurrence was a confusing clearance from ATC. The other reason was a failure to verify the proper altitude by both the flight crew and ATC. In the future, I will inquire ATC about desired altitude upon receiving TA's. Supplemental information from acn 612065: at 60 DME from mci VOR were cleared direct mci VOR. Myself and the first officer interpreted this clearance to include the crossing restr.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B190 CREW MISINTERPED ALT INSTRUCTIONS FROM ZKC RADAR CTLR AND DSND BELOW ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: ZKC INFORMED US TO 'EXPECT DIRECT KANSAS CITY AND CROSS 40 NM FROM KANSAS CITY AT 7000 FT.' HE THEN ADDED, 'GO DOWN TO 13000 FT FOR NOW.' WE BEGAN DSNDING FROM FL230. LATER, CTR SAID 'CLRED DIRECT KANSAS CITY.' THE CAPT AND I BOTH UNDERSTOOD THE XING RESTR TO STILL BE IN EFFECT AND INTERPED THIS CLRNC TO BE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT RESTR WHILE CONTINUING TO DSND. ATC ISSUED A TA '11:30 O'CLOCK POS, 12000 FT, OPPOSITE DIRECTION.' CAPT RESPONDED 'LOOKING FOR THE TFC.' NEITHER OF US COULD SEE THE TFC VISUALLY. FINALLY, ATC INQUIRED AS TO OUR ALT. CAPT READ BACK OUR INSTRUCTIONS TO CROSS 40 DME AT 7000 FT. ATC SAID WE WERE SUPPOSED TO REMAIN AT 13000 FT. HE THEN ADDED, 'TOO LATE NOW.' THE TFC THEN RPTED US 'IN SIGHT.' ONE REASON FOR THE OCCURRENCE WAS A CONFUSING CLRNC FROM ATC. THE OTHER REASON WAS A FAILURE TO VERIFY THE PROPER ALT BY BOTH THE FLT CREW AND ATC. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL INQUIRE ATC ABOUT DESIRED ALT UPON RECEIVING TA'S. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 612065: AT 60 DME FROM MCI VOR WERE CLRED DIRECT MCI VOR. MYSELF AND THE FO INTERPED THIS CLRNC TO INCLUDE THE XING RESTR.

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.

B190 crew misinterped altitude instructions from ZKC radar controller and descend below assigned altitude.