Narrative:

Received and readback clearance of 180 degree to intercept localizer 16 at khpn to cross leasa intersection at or above 5000'. Leveling at 5000 about 1.5 NM outside of leasa, a different controller on same frequency advised 'light transport, increase your rate of descent below 5000, traffic at 5000', eastbound at 2 O'clock and 2 mi.' we continued descent, were immediately cleared left to 090 degree, and then prior to reaching 090 degree, further left to 190 degree. During this turn, I queried the controller about some final altitude to level off at. We were about 4500' at the time. I told him we had the understanding we were going to 2000'. He cancelled the approach clearance, 'if you ever had one,' reassigned us left to 130 degree to intercept the localizer at 3000' and proceed inbound. Two things: I cannot force controllers to respond to readbacks which might have caught an error in our readback, if there was one. Second, I believe there was confusion in the transition between controllers. Interestingly enough, we'd just been complemented for a fine readback for a lengthy clearance about 20 min prior.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION AND POTENTIAL CONFLICT BETWEEN CORPORATE LTT AND UNKNOWN ACFT.

Narrative: RECEIVED AND READBACK CLRNC OF 180 DEG TO INTERCEPT LOC 16 AT KHPN TO CROSS LEASA INTXN AT OR ABOVE 5000'. LEVELING AT 5000 ABOUT 1.5 NM OUTSIDE OF LEASA, A DIFFERENT CTLR ON SAME FREQ ADVISED 'LTT, INCREASE YOUR RATE OF DSCNT BELOW 5000, TFC AT 5000', EBND AT 2 O'CLOCK AND 2 MI.' WE CONTINUED DSCNT, WERE IMMEDIATELY CLRED LEFT TO 090 DEG, AND THEN PRIOR TO REACHING 090 DEG, FURTHER LEFT TO 190 DEG. DURING THIS TURN, I QUERIED THE CTLR ABOUT SOME FINAL ALT TO LEVEL OFF AT. WE WERE ABOUT 4500' AT THE TIME. I TOLD HIM WE HAD THE UNDERSTANDING WE WERE GOING TO 2000'. HE CANCELLED THE APCH CLRNC, 'IF YOU EVER HAD ONE,' REASSIGNED US LEFT TO 130 DEG TO INTERCEPT THE LOC AT 3000' AND PROCEED INBND. TWO THINGS: I CANNOT FORCE CTLRS TO RESPOND TO READBACKS WHICH MIGHT HAVE CAUGHT AN ERROR IN OUR READBACK, IF THERE WAS ONE. SECOND, I BELIEVE THERE WAS CONFUSION IN THE TRANSITION BTWN CTLRS. INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, WE'D JUST BEEN COMPLEMENTED FOR A FINE READBACK FOR A LENGTHY CLRNC ABOUT 20 MIN PRIOR.

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.