Clearance for descent for medium large transport disputed.

Attributes
ACN	128138
Time
Date	198911
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bsy airport : mia
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 16000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : mia
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	128138
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
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 : detected after the fact other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We were descending into mia with a female controller who was difficult to understand. We were given a clearance to 'turn left to 160 degrees to intercept the csy 017 degree right, and cross the blufi intersection at 12000', altimeter 30.20.' we read this clearance back and complied. Upon leveling 12000', another controller questioned our altitude. We replied, and he said we should have crossed honoe at 16000'. We told him we were given 12000' by the other controller. He said it was no problem, and to descend to 11000'. I think controllers should only give 1 or 2 instructions at a time to avoid mistakes.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLRNC FOR DESCENT FOR MLG DISPUTED.

Narrative: WE WERE DSNDING INTO MIA WITH A FEMALE CTLR WHO WAS DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND. WE WERE GIVEN A CLRNC TO 'TURN LEFT TO 160 DEGS TO INTERCEPT THE CSY 017 DEG R, AND CROSS THE BLUFI INTXN AT 12000', ALTIMETER 30.20.' WE READ THIS CLRNC BACK AND COMPLIED. UPON LEVELING 12000', ANOTHER CTLR QUESTIONED OUR ALT. WE REPLIED, AND HE SAID WE SHOULD HAVE CROSSED HONOE AT 16000'. WE TOLD HIM WE WERE GIVEN 12000' BY THE OTHER CTLR. HE SAID IT WAS NO PROB, AND TO DSND TO 11000'. I THINK CTLRS SHOULD ONLY GIVE 1 OR 2 INSTRUCTIONS AT A TIME TO AVOID MISTAKES.

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.