Descending to 7000' the air carrier medium large transport flight crew was challenged as the aircraft passed 7200' and advised to climb to 8000'. Three minutes later the approach controller apologized for his error and reissued 7000'.

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Attributes
ACN	143019
Time
Date	199004
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : msp
State Reference	MN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7200 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : msp
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	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 : 200 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 6000
ASRS Report	143019
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation

Narrative:

While being vectored for approach we were assigned an altitude of 7000'. I responded with the altitude cleared to and both pilots agreed it was 7000'. Upon descending through 7200' MSL, the controller inquired as to our altitude. When I responded he said we were only cleared to 8000' and issued a clearance to climb to 8000' and a heading to turn to. We then complied with the new clearance. With no urgency in his voice, I assumed there was no traffic conflict. Two to three mins later he admitted his error and apologized. There was no further incident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DESCENDING TO 7000' THE ACR MLG FLT CREW WAS CHALLENGED AS THE ACFT PASSED 7200' AND ADVISED TO CLB TO 8000'. THREE MINUTES LATER THE APCH CTLR APOLOGIZED FOR HIS ERROR AND REISSUED 7000'.

Narrative: WHILE BEING VECTORED FOR APCH WE WERE ASSIGNED AN ALT OF 7000'. I RESPONDED WITH THE ALT CLRED TO AND BOTH PLTS AGREED IT WAS 7000'. UPON DSNDING THROUGH 7200' MSL, THE CTLR INQUIRED AS TO OUR ALT. WHEN I RESPONDED HE SAID WE WERE ONLY CLRED TO 8000' AND ISSUED A CLRNC TO CLB TO 8000' AND A HDG TO TURN TO. WE THEN COMPLIED WITH THE NEW CLRNC. WITH NO URGENCY IN HIS VOICE, I ASSUMED THERE WAS NO TFC CONFLICT. TWO TO THREE MINS LATER HE ADMITTED HIS ERROR AND APOLOGIZED. THERE WAS NO FURTHER INCIDENT.

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.