Missed crossing restriction. Misunderstood clearance.

Attributes
ACN	87295
Time
Date	198805
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : abe
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12200 msl bound upper : 13000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 135 flight time type : 6727
ASRS Report	87295
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 430
ASRS Report	87363
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

ATC had given a clearance to cross abe at 13000' and lizzy at 11000'. First officer read back abe at 15000' and lizzy at 11000'. Center failed to correct the error. I descended through 13000' to 12200' when ATC called to our attention of the abe crossing at 13000'. The instructions were received to continue descent below 13000' to 11000' therefore the descent to 12200' when ATC questioned our crossing altitude and informed us that the restriction was to cross abe at 13000' then, descend to cross lizzy at 11000'. Further confusion was added when the reply to ATC was 15000' at abe. Due to focus on the 11000' crossing I failed to heed the 13000' crossing at abe and the different altitudes for crossing was not corrected by ATC. Failure on the crew and ATC to pay attention to details created the situation of complacency therefore it pays to ask for verification.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MISSED CROSSING RESTRICTION. MISUNDERSTOOD CLRNC.

Narrative: ATC HAD GIVEN A CLRNC TO CROSS ABE AT 13000' AND LIZZY AT 11000'. F/O READ BACK ABE AT 15000' AND LIZZY AT 11000'. CENTER FAILED TO CORRECT THE ERROR. I DSNDED THROUGH 13000' TO 12200' WHEN ATC CALLED TO OUR ATTN OF THE ABE XING AT 13000'. THE INSTRUCTIONS WERE RECEIVED TO CONTINUE DSCNT BELOW 13000' TO 11000' THEREFORE THE DSCNT TO 12200' WHEN ATC QUESTIONED OUR XING ALT AND INFORMED US THAT THE RESTRICTION WAS TO CROSS ABE AT 13000' THEN, DSND TO CROSS LIZZY AT 11000'. FURTHER CONFUSION WAS ADDED WHEN THE REPLY TO ATC WAS 15000' AT ABE. DUE TO FOCUS ON THE 11000' XING I FAILED TO HEED THE 13000' XING AT ABE AND THE DIFFERENT ALTS FOR XING WAS NOT CORRECTED BY ATC. FAILURE ON THE CREW AND ATC TO PAY ATTN TO DETAILS CREATED THE SITUATION OF COMPLACENCY THEREFORE IT PAYS TO ASK FOR VERIFICATION.

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.