Less than standard separation between air carrier and GA small transport after air carrier climbed above assigned altitude. Pilot deviation. Readback hearback problem.

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Attributes
ACN	180639
Time
Date	199106
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : cae
State Reference	SC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 17000 msl bound upper : 17700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	cruise 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 : 150 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 45
ASRS Report	180639
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 24000 vertical : 300
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

Climbing to FL230, center gave TA of an small transport at 1 O'clock at FL180. We were given a clearance to heading 070 (center tape reveals that 17000 ft was also given in clearance). Copilot read back '070 heading for higher' (also on tape). No correction or monitor of our readback occurred. At 17600 ft center asked if we were assigned 17000' and to immediately descend to 17000 ft. Small transport Y was in sight as I initiated the recovery to 17000 ft. Center called to inform me of 4 possible altitude deviations to be filed. I called quality assurance (ATC) and he indicated that 17000 ft was assigned, 'for higher' was read back and that the controller did not catch the error. However, they will review the tape further and that they may notify our flight standards office of substandard technical on our part. The copilot is relatively new but extremely conscientious. His readbacks are word for word (not just heading, altitude and airspeed. Having seen the copilot pick up the microphone to read back, it is easy for me to monitor his readback, we received no correction from center. Why read back (especially with this extremely awkward sequence of call sign first) if it is not monitored? My copilot's radio technique and phraseology is excellent. I feel ATC also erred in this situation and are refusing to accept some of the blame.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LTSS BTWN ACR AND GA SMT AFTER ACR CLBED ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT. PLTDEV. READBACK HEARBACK PROBLEM.

Narrative: CLBING TO FL230, CENTER GAVE TA OF AN SMT AT 1 O'CLOCK AT FL180. WE WERE GIVEN A CLRNC TO HDG 070 (CENTER TAPE REVEALS THAT 17000 FT WAS ALSO GIVEN IN CLRNC). COPLT READ BACK '070 HDG FOR HIGHER' (ALSO ON TAPE). NO CORRECTION OR MONITOR OF OUR READBACK OCCURRED. AT 17600 FT CENTER ASKED IF WE WERE ASSIGNED 17000' AND TO IMMEDIATELY DSND TO 17000 FT. SMT Y WAS IN SIGHT AS I INITIATED THE RECOVERY TO 17000 FT. CENTER CALLED TO INFORM ME OF 4 POSSIBLE ALT DEVS TO BE FILED. I CALLED QUALITY ASSURANCE (ATC) AND HE INDICATED THAT 17000 FT WAS ASSIGNED, 'FOR HIGHER' WAS READ BACK AND THAT THE CTLR DID NOT CATCH THE ERROR. HOWEVER, THEY WILL REVIEW THE TAPE FURTHER AND THAT THEY MAY NOTIFY OUR FLT STANDARDS OFFICE OF SUBSTANDARD TECHNICAL ON OUR PART. THE COPLT IS RELATIVELY NEW BUT EXTREMELY CONSCIENTIOUS. HIS READBACKS ARE WORD FOR WORD (NOT JUST HDG, ALT AND AIRSPEED. HAVING SEEN THE COPLT PICK UP THE MICROPHONE TO READ BACK, IT IS EASY FOR ME TO MONITOR HIS READBACK, WE RECEIVED NO CORRECTION FROM CENTER. WHY READ BACK (ESPECIALLY WITH THIS EXTREMELY AWKWARD SEQUENCE OF CALL SIGN FIRST) IF IT IS NOT MONITORED? MY COPLT'S RADIO TECHNIQUE AND PHRASEOLOGY IS EXCELLENT. I FEEL ATC ALSO ERRED IN THIS SITUATION AND ARE REFUSING TO ACCEPT SOME OF THE BLAME.

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.