Air carrier flight crew assigned and read back descent clearance. Questioned regarding altitude, told should be 1000' higher. Controller held climbing traffic lower until clear.

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Attributes
ACN	131935
Time
Date	198912
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : btg
State Reference	WA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 23000 msl bound upper : 24000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zse
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Heavy Transport, Low Wing, 4 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 190 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	131935
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 19000 flight time type : 1700
ASRS Report	131938
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot conflict : airborne less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I was a first officer on an heavy transport from day to sea. When the WX went below minimums at sea, the captain elected to divert to pdx. We were cleared by ZSE from flaak intersection, direct to btg VOR. We were cleared from FL250 to FL240. At approximately 40 DME from btg VOR, center cleared us to FL230, to which I responded 'continuing descent to FL230.' I reset the altitude alert system to 23.0, and we continued descent. Once level at FL230 for approximately 2-3 mins, center asked us our altitude, to which I responded '23.0.' center then told us we were only cleared to FL240. We immediately initiated a climb back to FL240 and I responded 'out of 23.0 for 24.0.' center then said, 'negative, maintain 23.0.' I then responded 'roger, maintain FL230.' center then cleared climbing traffic to level and maintain 22.0.' we were VFR at the time and the climbing traffic was never sighted visually. We continued to pdx and landed west/O incident. Also, during this occurrence, cockpit workload was at maximum in that the F/east was trying to coordinate a re-release from company to divert to pdx, and we were trying to obtain pdx ATIS WX.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR FLT CREW ASSIGNED AND READ BACK DESCENT CLRNC. QUESTIONED REGARDING ALT, TOLD SHOULD BE 1000' HIGHER. CTLR HELD CLIMBING TRAFFIC LOWER UNTIL CLEAR.

Narrative: I WAS A F/O ON AN HVT FROM DAY TO SEA. WHEN THE WX WENT BELOW MINIMUMS AT SEA, THE CAPT ELECTED TO DIVERT TO PDX. WE WERE CLRED BY ZSE FROM FLAAK INTXN, DIRECT TO BTG VOR. WE WERE CLRED FROM FL250 TO FL240. AT APPROX 40 DME FROM BTG VOR, CTR CLRED US TO FL230, TO WHICH I RESPONDED 'CONTINUING DSCNT TO FL230.' I RESET THE ALT ALERT SYS TO 23.0, AND WE CONTINUED DSCNT. ONCE LEVEL AT FL230 FOR APPROX 2-3 MINS, CTR ASKED US OUR ALT, TO WHICH I RESPONDED '23.0.' CTR THEN TOLD US WE WERE ONLY CLRED TO FL240. WE IMMEDIATELY INITIATED A CLB BACK TO FL240 AND I RESPONDED 'OUT OF 23.0 FOR 24.0.' CTR THEN SAID, 'NEGATIVE, MAINTAIN 23.0.' I THEN RESPONDED 'ROGER, MAINTAIN FL230.' CTR THEN CLRED CLBING TFC TO LEVEL AND MAINTAIN 22.0.' WE WERE VFR AT THE TIME AND THE CLBING TFC WAS NEVER SIGHTED VISUALLY. WE CONTINUED TO PDX AND LANDED W/O INCIDENT. ALSO, DURING THIS OCCURRENCE, COCKPIT WORKLOAD WAS AT MAX IN THAT THE F/E WAS TRYING TO COORDINATE A RE-RELEASE FROM COMPANY TO DIVERT TO PDX, AND WE WERE TRYING TO OBTAIN PDX ATIS WX.

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.