Altitude deviation, overshoot on descent.

Attributes
ACN	144642
Time
Date	199005
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ghm
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme
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 : 175 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 10000
ASRS Report	144642
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 2670 flight time type : 20
ASRS Report	144649
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation

Narrative:

On flight from mem to bna when we were 32 NM from ghm VOR we received a clearance to a lower altitude. I did not hear the clearance very well, so I asked the controller to repeat his last transmission. I understood him to clear us to cross ghm at 10000' and 250 KTS, and I read back the clearance to cross ghm at 10000' and 250 KTS, which we did. After we leveled off at 10000' the controller asked our altitude, and we said 10000'. The controller said we had only been cleared to 11000'. No traffic conflict existed. I later called the center and they listened to the tapes. The tapes showed that center had cleared us to 11000' and we had read back 10000' and the controller did not catch the error. I think this type of problem could be reduced if more cities had the crossing altitudes published on the arrival charts.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEVIATION, OVERSHOOT ON DESCENT.

Narrative: ON FLT FROM MEM TO BNA WHEN WE WERE 32 NM FROM GHM VOR WE RECEIVED A CLRNC TO A LOWER ALT. I DID NOT HEAR THE CLRNC VERY WELL, SO I ASKED THE CTLR TO REPEAT HIS LAST XMISSION. I UNDERSTOOD HIM TO CLR US TO CROSS GHM AT 10000' AND 250 KTS, AND I READ BACK THE CLRNC TO CROSS GHM AT 10000' AND 250 KTS, WHICH WE DID. AFTER WE LEVELED OFF AT 10000' THE CTLR ASKED OUR ALT, AND WE SAID 10000'. THE CTLR SAID WE HAD ONLY BEEN CLRED TO 11000'. NO TFC CONFLICT EXISTED. I LATER CALLED THE CENTER AND THEY LISTENED TO THE TAPES. THE TAPES SHOWED THAT CENTER HAD CLRED US TO 11000' AND WE HAD READ BACK 10000' AND THE CTLR DID NOT CATCH THE ERROR. I THINK THIS TYPE OF PROB COULD BE REDUCED IF MORE CITIES HAD THE XING ALTS PUBLISHED ON THE ARR CHARTS.

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.