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An A320 flight crew inbound to las in descent to FL270 was told by center they were only cleared to FL320.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 717692 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200611 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : las.airport |
| State Reference | NV |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 30000 msl bound upper : 32000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdv.artcc tower : sdf.tower |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | A320 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | descent : intermediate altitude |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain observation : company check pilot oversight : pic |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 25000 flight time type : 6000 |
| ASRS Report | 717692 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 5600 |
| ASRS Report | 718190 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Ambiguous |
Narrative:
We were on an early descent into las with ZDV from FL380 to FL360 to FL340. Center then cleared us to FL270. The transmission was clear. I acknowledged the clearance with a full readback; pointed at the altitude window on the FCU and was acknowledged by the first officer verbally and with a finger point at the FCU. There was no question in either of our minds that the cleared altitude was FL270. This corresponded with our experience of early dscnts into las. Descending through FL305; ATC questioned our altitude and I told him. He indicated our cleared altitude was FL320 and to stop the descent at FL300. I read back the new altitude and told him our previous clearance was to FL270. He did not respond to this; but gave us a new frequency for ZLA. I think this was a controller error; as we have no doubt our clearance had been to FL270.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN A320 FLT CREW INBOUND TO LAS IN DSCNT TO FL270 WAS TOLD BY CTR THEY WERE ONLY CLRED TO FL320.
Narrative: WE WERE ON AN EARLY DSCNT INTO LAS WITH ZDV FROM FL380 TO FL360 TO FL340. CTR THEN CLRED US TO FL270. THE XMISSION WAS CLR. I ACKNOWLEDGED THE CLRNC WITH A FULL READBACK; POINTED AT THE ALT WINDOW ON THE FCU AND WAS ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE FO VERBALLY AND WITH A FINGER POINT AT THE FCU. THERE WAS NO QUESTION IN EITHER OF OUR MINDS THAT THE CLRED ALT WAS FL270. THIS CORRESPONDED WITH OUR EXPERIENCE OF EARLY DSCNTS INTO LAS. DSNDING THROUGH FL305; ATC QUESTIONED OUR ALT AND I TOLD HIM. HE INDICATED OUR CLRED ALT WAS FL320 AND TO STOP THE DSCNT AT FL300. I READ BACK THE NEW ALT AND TOLD HIM OUR PREVIOUS CLRNC WAS TO FL270. HE DID NOT RESPOND TO THIS; BUT GAVE US A NEW FREQ FOR ZLA. I THINK THIS WAS A CTLR ERROR; AS WE HAVE NO DOUBT OUR CLRNC HAD BEEN TO FL270.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.