Airborne conflict arises from confusion as to altitude clearance.

Attributes
ACN	138297
Time
Date	199002
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sbv airport : rdu
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc tracon : rdu tower : isp
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 8500 flight time type : 2700
ASRS Report	138297
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met conflict : airborne less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Dca-deu- cleared for SBV1 arrival. Cleared by ZDC to cross aldan at 8000'. Clearance was acknowledged to center. While in descent switched to rdu approach. Check in 'descending to 8000'.' this was rogered. Approximately 1 min later given a frantic vector by rdu approach to turn right. Another aircraft was also instructed to turn immediately. There was obviously a conflict. I was told by rdu approach that I had been instructed to maintain 10000'. I told them that was not the case.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AIRBORNE CONFLICT ARISES FROM CONFUSION AS TO ALT CLRNC.

Narrative: DCA-DEU- CLRED FOR SBV1 ARR. CLRED BY ZDC TO CROSS ALDAN AT 8000'. CLRNC WAS ACKNOWLEDGED TO CENTER. WHILE IN DSCNT SWITCHED TO RDU APCH. CHK IN 'DSNDING TO 8000'.' THIS WAS ROGERED. APPROX 1 MIN LATER GIVEN A FRANTIC VECTOR BY RDU APCH TO TURN RIGHT. ANOTHER ACFT WAS ALSO INSTRUCTED TO TURN IMMEDIATELY. THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY A CONFLICT. I WAS TOLD BY RDU APCH THAT I HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN 10000'. I TOLD THEM THAT WAS NOT THE 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.