Misinterp of altitude assigned not caught on readback.

Attributes
ACN	122851
Time
Date	198909
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : fak
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28500 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zdc
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 9500 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	122851
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

ZDC cleared us to descend to FL220. Copilot acknowledged, 'out of 330 for FL220, nxv.' passing through FL285, center asked us if we were at FL290 and we advised that we were descending through FL285 to FL220, as assigned. ZDC advised us to climb to and maintain FL290. We acknowledged and climbed back up to FL290. We advised center that we had read back her clearance to FL220. No further communication re: the matter. Factors: the ATC controller either did not hear our readback to FL220 or heard it, but didn't listen, or she would have corrected the clearance to FL290.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MISINTERP OF ALT ASSIGNED NOT CAUGHT ON READBACK.

Narrative: ZDC CLRED US TO DSND TO FL220. COPLT ACKNOWLEDGED, 'OUT OF 330 FOR FL220, NXV.' PASSING THROUGH FL285, CENTER ASKED US IF WE WERE AT FL290 AND WE ADVISED THAT WE WERE DSNDING THROUGH FL285 TO FL220, AS ASSIGNED. ZDC ADVISED US TO CLB TO AND MAINTAIN FL290. WE ACKNOWLEDGED AND CLBED BACK UP TO FL290. WE ADVISED CENTER THAT WE HAD READ BACK HER CLRNC TO FL220. NO FURTHER COM RE: THE MATTER. FACTORS: THE ATC CTLR EITHER DID NOT HEAR OUR READBACK TO FL220 OR HEARD IT, BUT DIDN'T LISTEN, OR SHE WOULD HAVE CORRECTED THE CLRNC TO FL290.

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.