Flight crew of atx small transport aircraft was assigned 2 different altitudes by ATC during transfe...

Attributes
ACN	218317
Time
Date	199208
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : acy
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : acy
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 1090 flight time type : 360
ASRS Report	218317
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 2500 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	218108
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Captain X received an IFR clearance from atlantic city international (acy) clearance delivery as follows for north number atx small transport aircraft: runway heading, radar vectors, V184 ziggi intersection, 210 degree radial jfk direct frg, 2000 ft/5000 ft 10 min past. We departed acy from runway 22, captain X at the controls, first officer X assisting in navigation. Acy departure cleared us to 5000 ft MSL about 4 min after departure with radar vectors for V184. We climbed and maintained 5000 ft for about 8 mins before requesting direct ziggi intersection from acy departure. Acy departure cleared us direct ziggi intersection descend and maintain 3000 ft. Captain X descended to 3000 ft direct ziggi intersection. Acy departure handed us over to mcguire approach control who immediately queried first officer about our 3000 ft altitude, specifically wanting to know who had assigned us 3000 ft. First officer advised mcguire that acy departure had descended us to 3000 ft from 5000 ft. Mcguire approach stated acy departure had not cleared us to 3000 ft. Mcguire then stated for us to climb and maintain 5000 ft. Captain climbed back to 5000 ft. First officer advised mcguire 'level 5000 ft.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF ATX SMT ACFT WAS ASSIGNED 2 DIFFERENT ALTS BY ATC DURING TRANSFER OF ATC FACILITIES.

Narrative: CAPT X RECEIVED AN IFR CLRNC FROM ATLANTIC CITY INTL (ACY) CLRNC DELIVERY AS FOLLOWS FOR N NUMBER ATX SMT ACFT: RWY HDG, RADAR VECTORS, V184 ZIGGI INTXN, 210 DEG RADIAL JFK DIRECT FRG, 2000 FT/5000 FT 10 MIN PAST. WE DEPARTED ACY FROM RWY 22, CAPT X AT THE CTLS, FO X ASSISTING IN NAV. ACY DEP CLRED US TO 5000 FT MSL ABOUT 4 MIN AFTER DEP WITH RADAR VECTORS FOR V184. WE CLBED AND MAINTAINED 5000 FT FOR ABOUT 8 MINS BEFORE REQUESTING DIRECT ZIGGI INTXN FROM ACY DEP. ACY DEP CLRED US DIRECT ZIGGI INTXN DSND AND MAINTAIN 3000 FT. CAPT X DSNDED TO 3000 FT DIRECT ZIGGI INTXN. ACY DEP HANDED US OVER TO MCGUIRE APCH CTL WHO IMMEDIATELY QUERIED FO ABOUT OUR 3000 FT ALT, SPECIFICALLY WANTING TO KNOW WHO HAD ASSIGNED US 3000 FT. FO ADVISED MCGUIRE THAT ACY DEP HAD DSNDED US TO 3000 FT FROM 5000 FT. MCGUIRE APCH STATED ACY DEP HAD NOT CLRED US TO 3000 FT. MCGUIRE THEN STATED FOR US TO CLB AND MAINTAIN 5000 FT. CAPT CLBED BACK TO 5000 FT. FO ADVISED MCGUIRE 'LEVEL 5000 FT.'

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.

Flight crew of atx small transport aircraft was assigned 2 different altitudes by ATC during transfer of ATC facilities.