Narrative:

Approaching cvg at 10000', approach control cleared us to descend and slow to 210 KTS. Copilot read back, 'descend to 6000' and slow to 210.' approach responded, 'make that 7000' now.' passing 7600' on descent, approach told us to maintain 8000', and we advised we would climb back up and questioned his earlier clearance to 7000'. He mentioned traffic at 7000', which we had in sight, and said he cleared us to 8000'. The traffic was not a factor, yet there might have been confusion after our cleared descent when the aircraft at 7000' could not comply with approach control's instructions for their approach.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: POTENTIAL CONFLICT LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION.

Narrative: APCHING CVG AT 10000', APCH CTL CLRED US TO DSND AND SLOW TO 210 KTS. COPLT READ BACK, 'DSND TO 6000' AND SLOW TO 210.' APCH RESPONDED, 'MAKE THAT 7000' NOW.' PASSING 7600' ON DSNT, APCH TOLD US TO MAINTAIN 8000', AND WE ADVISED WE WOULD CLB BACK UP AND QUESTIONED HIS EARLIER CLRNC TO 7000'. HE MENTIONED TFC AT 7000', WHICH WE HAD IN SIGHT, AND SAID HE CLRED US TO 8000'. THE TFC WAS NOT A FACTOR, YET THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN CONFUSION AFTER OUR CLRED DSNT WHEN THE ACFT AT 7000' COULD NOT COMPLY WITH APCH CTL'S INSTRUCTIONS FOR THEIR APCH.

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.