Narrative:

While cruising at our crs altitude of FL410, we received a clearance to des to FL370 and expect catta at FL260. After leveling off at FL370 we subsequently received and acknowledged a clearance to cross catta at FL260. As we were going through FL302 the controller called and told us we were restr to FL330 and asked why we were descending and why we weren't 'listening up.' then, told us to climb to FL330. As we initiated the climb we were given a clearance to cross catta at FL260. At no time during our des did we receive nor did we acknowledge a stop des at FL330. After speaking with watch supervisor at wash center, he having reviewed the tapes and found no acknowledgement of any altitude restriction, and having time to reflect on this situation, the amount of traffic on this frequency, and the fact that idle/crs/des on an large transport produces about 1400 FPM, which would create almost 2 mins from the time we went through the altitude the controller wanted us restr to, till he actually detected it, indicates to me that this control position area of responsibility severely needs to be diluted. Supplemental information from acn 80483: the watch supervisor said he had reviewed the tapes and we indeed had not acknowledged the clearance. As far as he was concerned, we were 'exonerated.' the controller was very busy and appeared to be working 2 frequencys. Several transmissions, prior to the event, were blocked.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG GIVEN DESCENT CLNC WITH CROSSING RESTRICTION, THEN HAD ALT AMENDED, MISSED AMENDED ALT AND ATC CORRECTED PROBLEM.

Narrative: WHILE CRUISING AT OUR CRS ALT OF FL410, WE RECEIVED A CLRNC TO DES TO FL370 AND EXPECT CATTA AT FL260. AFTER LEVELING OFF AT FL370 WE SUBSEQUENTLY RECEIVED AND ACKNOWLEDGED A CLRNC TO CROSS CATTA AT FL260. AS WE WERE GOING THROUGH FL302 THE CTLR CALLED AND TOLD US WE WERE RESTR TO FL330 AND ASKED WHY WE WERE DSNDING AND WHY WE WEREN'T 'LISTENING UP.' THEN, TOLD US TO CLB TO FL330. AS WE INITIATED THE CLB WE WERE GIVEN A CLRNC TO CROSS CATTA AT FL260. AT NO TIME DURING OUR DES DID WE RECEIVE NOR DID WE ACKNOWLEDGE A STOP DES AT FL330. AFTER SPEAKING WITH WATCH SUPVR AT WASH CENTER, HE HAVING REVIEWED THE TAPES AND FOUND NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF ANY ALT RESTRICTION, AND HAVING TIME TO REFLECT ON THIS SITUATION, THE AMOUNT OF TFC ON THIS FREQ, AND THE FACT THAT IDLE/CRS/DES ON AN LGT PRODUCES ABOUT 1400 FPM, WHICH WOULD CREATE ALMOST 2 MINS FROM THE TIME WE WENT THROUGH THE ALT THE CTLR WANTED US RESTR TO, TILL HE ACTUALLY DETECTED IT, INDICATES TO ME THAT THIS CTL POSITION AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY SEVERELY NEEDS TO BE DILUTED. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM ACN 80483: THE WATCH SUPVR SAID HE HAD REVIEWED THE TAPES AND WE INDEED HAD NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THE CLRNC. AS FAR AS HE WAS CONCERNED, WE WERE 'EXONERATED.' THE CTLR WAS VERY BUSY AND APPEARED TO BE WORKING 2 FREQS. SEVERAL TRANSMISSIONS, PRIOR TO THE EVENT, WERE BLOCKED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.