Air carrier large transport overshot altitude on climb due to controller phraseology.

Attributes
ACN	98473
Time
Date	198811
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bda
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : atlantic enroute airway : g432
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 12000
ASRS Report	98473
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : overshoot other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation

Narrative:

We were cleared to FL350 by clearance delivery. Departure control also reclred to FL350. En route frequency asked if we could be at 310 by a certain fix. Our omega showed the fix to be 148 NM away from our position so I replied that we could. I assumed that he wanted us at or above FL310 by that time. At FL335 he said, 'I told you to cross the fix at FL310.' we descended to FL310 and then found out that was our final altitude. We never heard the reclrnc.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT OVERSHOT ALT ON CLIMB DUE TO CTLR PHRASEOLOGY.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED TO FL350 BY CLRNC DELIVERY. DEP CTL ALSO RECLRED TO FL350. ENRTE FREQ ASKED IF WE COULD BE AT 310 BY A CERTAIN FIX. OUR OMEGA SHOWED THE FIX TO BE 148 NM AWAY FROM OUR POSITION SO I REPLIED THAT WE COULD. I ASSUMED THAT HE WANTED US AT OR ABOVE FL310 BY THAT TIME. AT FL335 HE SAID, 'I TOLD YOU TO CROSS THE FIX AT FL310.' WE DESCENDED TO FL310 AND THEN FOUND OUT THAT WAS OUR FINAL ALT. WE NEVER HEARD THE RECLRNC.

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.