Air carrier X non adherence to ATC clearance. Failed to descend to new assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	219439
Time
Date	199208
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : hvq
State Reference	WV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	219439
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

The ZDC controller, frequency 133.27, had presumably advised air carrier X of traffic at FL330 at our 2 O'clock position. I acknowledged the transmission with a 'no contact' on the traffic. At some time later, the same controller advised us to execute a descent to FL290 immediately, advising us that the traffic was now at FL310, 35 mi and 2 O'clock. We initiated a descent. No further action required.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR X NON ADHERENCE TO ATC CLRNC. FAILED TO DSND TO NEW ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: THE ZDC CTLR, FREQ 133.27, HAD PRESUMABLY ADVISED ACR X OF TFC AT FL330 AT OUR 2 O'CLOCK POS. I ACKNOWLEDGED THE XMISSION WITH A 'NO CONTACT' ON THE TFC. AT SOME TIME LATER, THE SAME CTLR ADVISED US TO EXECUTE A DSCNT TO FL290 IMMEDIATELY, ADVISING US THAT THE TFC WAS NOW AT FL310, 35 MI AND 2 O'CLOCK. WE INITIATED A DSCNT. NO FURTHER ACTION REQUIRED.

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.