Air carrier widebody transport overshot altitude on descent.

Attributes
ACN	90158
Time
Date	198806
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ath
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4500 msl bound upper : 14000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other enroute airway : ur19
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	90158
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	controller : non radar
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On transfer of radio from nicosia (125.5) to athena (119.1) we were clrd from 220 to 4500'. Controller's english was marginal, so to insure descent to 45 requested confirmation twice, then reported leaving 220 for 4500'. After confirmation, continued on over kea to athena VOR (ur 19). Controller inquired altitude. Reported 5800 for 4500. Controller reclred us to 7000 to hold kea. Approach 121.4 change over kea. Reclred to depart kea heading 250 degree, etc. Controller (119.1) said he only cleared us to 14000' (FL140) to kea. Because of communication being poor, we had twice confirmed clearance to FL450. Controller said he only said to expect clearance at 45.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR WDB OVERSHOT ALT ON DESCENT.

Narrative: ON TRANSFER OF RADIO FROM NICOSIA (125.5) TO ATHENA (119.1) WE WERE CLRD FROM 220 TO 4500'. CTLR'S ENGLISH WAS MARGINAL, SO TO INSURE DESCENT TO 45 REQUESTED CONFIRMATION TWICE, THEN REPORTED LEAVING 220 FOR 4500'. AFTER CONFIRMATION, CONTINUED ON OVER KEA TO ATHENA VOR (UR 19). CTLR INQUIRED ALT. REPORTED 5800 FOR 4500. CTLR RECLRED US TO 7000 TO HOLD KEA. APCH 121.4 CHANGE OVER KEA. RECLRED TO DEPART KEA HDG 250 DEG, ETC. CTLR (119.1) SAID HE ONLY CLRED US TO 14000' (FL140) TO KEA. BECAUSE OF COMMUNICATION BEING POOR, WE HAD TWICE CONFIRMED CLRNC TO FL450. CTLR SAID HE ONLY SAID TO EXPECT CLRNC AT 45.

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.