Narrative:

Entering ny TCA approximately 20 mi southeast of broadway VOR (bwz) at 6000' under control of ewr approach control. Given clearance to 3000' by approach control, which pilot acknowledged. At an altitude on 4400' during the descent ATC gave clearance to us to climb immediately to 5000'. We complied with the clearance, and I asked where the traffic was. ATC answered at 12:30 and 4 mi wbound at 4000'. When we leveled at 5000' we visually sighted the conflicting aircraft at 4000' at about 2 1/2 mi horizontal distance. Air traffic controller gave me a telephone # to call when I asked him what had caused the traffic conflict. I spoke to the supervisor of the ewr approach sector who was controling us once we landed, and he told me that the controller had made an error when he cleared us to 3000' and that he had in fact cleared us to 3000'. No evasive action was necessary by either aircraft, other than our aircraft climbing as instructed to an altitude of 5000'. No information was given to me as to what corrective action would be taken. Flight was normal in all aspects except this one conflict.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: APCH CTLR GAVE MLG DESCENT CLRNC AND THEN RETRACTED IT DUE TO CONFLICTING TRAFFIC. TRAFFIC ADVISORY GIVEN AND TRAFFIC SIGHTED. OPERATIONAL ERROR.

Narrative: ENTERING NY TCA APPROX 20 MI SE OF BROADWAY VOR (BWZ) AT 6000' UNDER CTL OF EWR APCH CTL. GIVEN CLRNC TO 3000' BY APCH CTL, WHICH PLT ACKNOWLEDGED. AT AN ALT ON 4400' DURING THE DSCNT ATC GAVE CLRNC TO US TO CLB IMMEDIATELY TO 5000'. WE COMPLIED WITH THE CLRNC, AND I ASKED WHERE THE TFC WAS. ATC ANSWERED AT 12:30 AND 4 MI WBOUND AT 4000'. WHEN WE LEVELED AT 5000' WE VISUALLY SIGHTED THE CONFLICTING ACFT AT 4000' AT ABOUT 2 1/2 MI HORIZ DISTANCE. AIR TFC CTLR GAVE ME A TELEPHONE # TO CALL WHEN I ASKED HIM WHAT HAD CAUSED THE TFC CONFLICT. I SPOKE TO THE SUPVR OF THE EWR APCH SECTOR WHO WAS CTLING US ONCE WE LANDED, AND HE TOLD ME THAT THE CTLR HAD MADE AN ERROR WHEN HE CLRED US TO 3000' AND THAT HE HAD IN FACT CLRED US TO 3000'. NO EVASIVE ACTION WAS NECESSARY BY EITHER ACFT, OTHER THAN OUR ACFT CLBING AS INSTRUCTED TO AN ALT OF 5000'. NO INFO WAS GIVEN TO ME AS TO WHAT CORRECTIVE ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN. FLT WAS NORMAL IN ALL ASPECTS EXCEPT THIS ONE CONFLICT.

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.