Air carrier X cleared to occupied altitude. Operational deviation.

Attributes
ACN	148379
Time
Date	199006
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ord
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ord tower : spi
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors enroute airway : ord
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 17500
ASRS Report	148379
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight attendant : on duty
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 18000 vertical : 400
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation

Narrative:

Air carrier X was descending into ord for approach to runway 14R. There were 2 voices working approach control. Controller voice #1 cleared us from 8000 to 7000', then gave us a turn to 320 degrees. All clrncs were properly read back. At approximately 7400' controller voice #2 advised we were only cleared to 8000' and repeated the turn to 320 degrees. Descend was stopped at 7350' and climbed back to 8000'. No traffic issued by approach control and none seen by cockpit crew. After landing F/a said we were 'very close' to another aircraft Y. Approach control was called by phone. The supervisor on duty during the incident said it was a training error on the part of ATC. He said the aircraft we were close to had us visually during the entire episode, and that we never came within near miss or violation parameters. Recommend no training during peak traffic periods.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR X CLEARED TO OCCUPIED ALT. OPERATIONAL DEVIATION.

Narrative: ACR X WAS DSNDING INTO ORD FOR APCH TO RWY 14R. THERE WERE 2 VOICES WORKING APCH CTL. CTLR VOICE #1 CLRED US FROM 8000 TO 7000', THEN GAVE US A TURN TO 320 DEGS. ALL CLRNCS WERE PROPERLY READ BACK. AT APPROX 7400' CTLR VOICE #2 ADVISED WE WERE ONLY CLRED TO 8000' AND REPEATED THE TURN TO 320 DEGS. DSND WAS STOPPED AT 7350' AND CLBED BACK TO 8000'. NO TFC ISSUED BY APCH CTL AND NONE SEEN BY COCKPIT CREW. AFTER LNDG F/A SAID WE WERE 'VERY CLOSE' TO ANOTHER ACFT Y. APCH CTL WAS CALLED BY PHONE. THE SUPVR ON DUTY DURING THE INCIDENT SAID IT WAS A TRNING ERROR ON THE PART OF ATC. HE SAID THE ACFT WE WERE CLOSE TO HAD US VISUALLY DURING THE ENTIRE EPISODE, AND THAT WE NEVER CAME WITHIN NEAR MISS OR VIOLATION PARAMETERS. RECOMMEND NO TRNING DURING PEAK TFC PERIODS.

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.