Narrative:

In initial clearance were told to maintain 13000'. Immediately after takeoff were given 5000', then 7000', then 13000'. I was the captain on the flight. The aircraft was being flown by a new hire who was getting his initial experience for copilot designation. Traffic was called at 10 O'clock. I looked for the traffic. I heard a radio transmission I thought was for us. I looked back inside and noticed the altitude preselector was set for 14000'. I asked the copilot 'did they give us 14000'?' he said yes. The frequency was extremely crowded. While I was waiting for a break to report 13000 to 14000' we were given a frequency change. I reported on the new frequency as leveling 14000'. The controller (never did like that term--I think it presumes too much) said 'the altitude was supposed to be 13000', contact ZLA 133.05.' I took the aircraft, descended rapidly to 13000', called center to report level 13000'. He replied 'you were supposed to be at 14000'. Oh well, maintain FL230.' I really don't know if we were assigned 14000' and the first departure controller didn't tell the second (I suspect this is the case knowing bur as I do), or if we blew it. I always confirm things if there's any doubt. The very heavy congestion on the frequency prevented my doing it in this case.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF CORP MLG THINGS THEY ARE CLEARED TO 14000', BUT THEN THE ARR CTLR SAYS THEY WERE ONLY CLEARED TO 13000'. FLT CREW RETURNS ACFT TO 13000' AND SIMULTANEOUSLY ACCEPT A HANDOFF TO ZLA, WHEREUPON THE ARTCC CTLR TELLS THEM THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE AT 14000'.

Narrative: IN INITIAL CLRNC WERE TOLD TO MAINTAIN 13000'. IMMEDIATELY AFTER TKOF WERE GIVEN 5000', THEN 7000', THEN 13000'. I WAS THE CAPT ON THE FLT. THE ACFT WAS BEING FLOWN BY A NEW HIRE WHO WAS GETTING HIS INITIAL EXPERIENCE FOR COPLT DESIGNATION. TFC WAS CALLED AT 10 O'CLOCK. I LOOKED FOR THE TFC. I HEARD A RADIO XMISSION I THOUGHT WAS FOR US. I LOOKED BACK INSIDE AND NOTICED THE ALT PRESELECTOR WAS SET FOR 14000'. I ASKED THE COPLT 'DID THEY GIVE US 14000'?' HE SAID YES. THE FREQ WAS EXTREMELY CROWDED. WHILE I WAS WAITING FOR A BREAK TO RPT 13000 TO 14000' WE WERE GIVEN A FREQ CHANGE. I RPTED ON THE NEW FREQ AS LEVELING 14000'. THE CTLR (NEVER DID LIKE THAT TERM--I THINK IT PRESUMES TOO MUCH) SAID 'THE ALT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE 13000', CONTACT ZLA 133.05.' I TOOK THE ACFT, DSNDED RAPIDLY TO 13000', CALLED CENTER TO RPT LEVEL 13000'. HE REPLIED 'YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE AT 14000'. OH WELL, MAINTAIN FL230.' I REALLY DON'T KNOW IF WE WERE ASSIGNED 14000' AND THE FIRST DEP CTLR DIDN'T TELL THE SECOND (I SUSPECT THIS IS THE CASE KNOWING BUR AS I DO), OR IF WE BLEW IT. I ALWAYS CONFIRM THINGS IF THERE'S ANY DOUBT. THE VERY HEAVY CONGESTION ON THE FREQ PREVENTED MY DOING IT IN THIS CASE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.