Narrative:

While descending through FL180 the controller came on and asked what our altitude was. We replied FL180 for 11000 ft. The controller then issued a right turn to 150 degrees (approximately 70 degrees right). The controller told us to level at 17000 ft and said mlt traffic had passed at FL180 3 mi away. They understood we were to stop at FL190 and we replied that we were told to cross 65 southwest of nottingham (ott) at 11000 ft. The controller said it must have been their fault. The controller had called out traffic previously and I believe he meant to tell us to level at FL190 and forgot. Supplemental information from acn 236516: my first officer had written the clearance back on the radio.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC MIX-UP ON ASSIGNED ALT CAUSES LESS THAN LEGAL SEPARATION.

Narrative: WHILE DSNDING THROUGH FL180 THE CTLR CAME ON AND ASKED WHAT OUR ALT WAS. WE REPLIED FL180 FOR 11000 FT. THE CTLR THEN ISSUED A R TURN TO 150 DEGS (APPROX 70 DEGS R). THE CTLR TOLD US TO LEVEL AT 17000 FT AND SAID MLT TFC HAD PASSED AT FL180 3 MI AWAY. THEY UNDERSTOOD WE WERE TO STOP AT FL190 AND WE REPLIED THAT WE WERE TOLD TO CROSS 65 SW OF NOTTINGHAM (OTT) AT 11000 FT. THE CTLR SAID IT MUST HAVE BEEN THEIR FAULT. THE CTLR HAD CALLED OUT TFC PREVIOUSLY AND I BELIEVE HE MEANT TO TELL US TO LEVEL AT FL190 AND FORGOT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 236516: MY FO HAD WRITTEN THE CLRNC BACK ON THE RADIO.

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.