Narrative:

We were issued direct to flat rock VOR from montebello VOR and given a restriction to cross richmond 20 DME at 9000'. Since richmond was the final destination the clearance sounded legitimate. At 15 mi west of flat rock at about 12000' the controller said if we wanted to stay high it was ok, and this started the wheels turning. We questioned the controller and he said he may have given us 20 mi west of richmond at 9000', and that he coordinated this, but the intent was 20 west of flat rock at 9000' (flat rock west of richmond). Surprise, surprise, everything seems smooth and although we followed the clearance given, a NASA report seemed appropriate.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTLR INADVERTENTLY ISSUED A DESCENT CLRNC TO CROSS A DME FIX UTILIZING A DIFFERENT VORTAC THAN INTENDED. OPERATIONAL DEVIATION.

Narrative: WE WERE ISSUED DIRECT TO FLAT ROCK VOR FROM MONTEBELLO VOR AND GIVEN A RESTRICTION TO CROSS RICHMOND 20 DME AT 9000'. SINCE RICHMOND WAS THE FINAL DEST THE CLRNC SOUNDED LEGITIMATE. AT 15 MI W OF FLAT ROCK AT ABOUT 12000' THE CTLR SAID IF WE WANTED TO STAY HIGH IT WAS OK, AND THIS STARTED THE WHEELS TURNING. WE QUESTIONED THE CTLR AND HE SAID HE MAY HAVE GIVEN US 20 MI W OF RICHMOND AT 9000', AND THAT HE COORDINATED THIS, BUT THE INTENT WAS 20 W OF FLAT ROCK AT 9000' (FLAT ROCK W OF RICHMOND). SURPRISE, SURPRISE, EVERYTHING SEEMS SMOOTH AND ALTHOUGH WE FOLLOWED THE CLRNC GIVEN, A NASA RPT SEEMED APPROPRIATE.

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.