Mdt flight crew delays descent after given clearance for descent.

Attributes
ACN	205907
Time
Date	199203
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : etg
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9000 msl bound upper : 16000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ont
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Transport, High Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zob
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 19200 flight time type : 1070
ASRS Report	205907
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were cleared to descend to 9000 and cross the grace intersection at 7000 -- pilot's discretion leaving 9000. The first officer, who was flying, thought the clearance was 'pilot's discretion leaving 16000.' I was preoccupied with a fluctuating engine gauge and did not notice that we had not left 16000. Several mins later, ZOB asked us to leave 16000 for 9000. There may have been a conflict, but I'm not sure. The cause of the incident was my failure to make sure the first officer understood the clearance before I diverted my attention to the engine gauge.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MDT FLC DELAYS DSCNT AFTER GIVEN CLRNC FOR DSCNT.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED TO DSND TO 9000 AND CROSS THE GRACE INTXN AT 7000 -- PLT'S DISCRETION LEAVING 9000. THE FO, WHO WAS FLYING, THOUGHT THE CLRNC WAS 'PLT'S DISCRETION LEAVING 16000.' I WAS PREOCCUPIED WITH A FLUCTUATING ENG GAUGE AND DID NOT NOTICE THAT WE HAD NOT LEFT 16000. SEVERAL MINS LATER, ZOB ASKED US TO LEAVE 16000 FOR 9000. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A CONFLICT, BUT I'M NOT SURE. THE CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT WAS MY FAILURE TO MAKE SURE THE FO UNDERSTOOD THE CLRNC BEFORE I DIVERTED MY ATTN TO THE ENG GAUGE.

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.