Air carrier large transport cleared to cross lizzi at 7000' when controller meant to say cross lizzi...

Attributes
ACN	92489
Time
Date	198808
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : abe
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 11000
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
Route In Use	arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time total : 15000
ASRS Report	92489
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 1400
ASRS Report	92554
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation

Narrative:

While flying milton 5 arrival into lga, ZNY cleared us to cross lizzi at 7000'. We questioned this altitude as normal crossing altitude at lizzi is 11000'. ZNY confirmed lizzi at 7000'. About 6-7 mi prior to lizzi descending and still talking to ZNY, we were asked what our altitude was. We replied, '9000 descending to 7000.' ZNY reclred us back to 11000' and acknowledged they had made a mistake. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: reporter did not make a follow up inquiry concerning this incident. He turned a report in to his company ATC rep and has heard nothing from it since. The controller did tell the flight crew on the radio that she meant to say 11000' and apparently said 7000'. When the first officer questioned the strange altitude at lizzi, the controller said she thought he questioned 11000', not 7000. This seemed to be a hearing/say one thing and mean another problem because traffic was light at the time.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT CLEARED TO CROSS LIZZI AT 7000' WHEN CTLR MEANT TO SAY CROSS LIZZI AT 11000'.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING MILTON 5 ARR INTO LGA, ZNY CLRED US TO CROSS LIZZI AT 7000'. WE QUESTIONED THIS ALT AS NORMAL XING ALT AT LIZZI IS 11000'. ZNY CONFIRMED LIZZI AT 7000'. ABOUT 6-7 MI PRIOR TO LIZZI DSNDING AND STILL TALKING TO ZNY, WE WERE ASKED WHAT OUR ALT WAS. WE REPLIED, '9000 DSNDING TO 7000.' ZNY RECLRED US BACK TO 11000' AND ACKNOWLEDGED THEY HAD MADE A MISTAKE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: RPTR DID NOT MAKE A FOLLOW UP INQUIRY CONCERNING THIS INCIDENT. HE TURNED A RPT IN TO HIS COMPANY ATC REP AND HAS HEARD NOTHING FROM IT SINCE. THE CTLR DID TELL THE FLT CREW ON THE RADIO THAT SHE MEANT TO SAY 11000' AND APPARENTLY SAID 7000'. WHEN THE F/O QUESTIONED THE STRANGE ALT AT LIZZI, THE CTLR SAID SHE THOUGHT HE QUESTIONED 11000', NOT 7000. THIS SEEMED TO BE A HEARING/SAY ONE THING AND MEAN ANOTHER PROB BECAUSE TFC WAS LIGHT AT THE TIME.

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.

Air carrier large transport cleared to cross lizzi at 7000' when controller meant to say cross lizzi at 11000'.