A departure controller missed the wrong altitude on air carrier readback.

Attributes
ACN	278755
Time
Date	199407
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : aus
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : aus artcc : zkc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Fokker 100
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	278755
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 0 vertical : 1000
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Predep clearance at aus included a climb to 4000 ft with a right turn to heading 040 degrees. Tower revised the altitude to 3000 ft as clearance was given to hold on runway 31. While climbing on a heading of 040 degrees the initial response from departure control was 'radar contact, climb to 6000 ft turn left to 010 degrees.' at 3000 ft, TCASII issued an audible TA. Captain abruptly leveled at approximately 3300 ft and returned to 3000 ft due to traffic display at 12 O'clock and 3-4 mi level at 4000 ft. ATC then advised us of the traffic. First officer picked up a visual and advised ATC that we had to level at 3000 ft to avoid a conflict. ATC then asked us to confirm we were climbing to 3000 ft. First officer responded 'negative sir, you gave us 6000 ft, and we read it back.' ATC said he had missed the readback. Traffic was a light aircraft and passed directly overhead at 4000 ft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DEP CTLR MISSED THE WRONG ALT ON ACR READBACK.

Narrative: PREDEP CLRNC AT AUS INCLUDED A CLB TO 4000 FT WITH A R TURN TO HDG 040 DEGS. TWR REVISED THE ALT TO 3000 FT AS CLRNC WAS GIVEN TO HOLD ON RWY 31. WHILE CLBING ON A HDG OF 040 DEGS THE INITIAL RESPONSE FROM DEP CTL WAS 'RADAR CONTACT, CLB TO 6000 FT TURN L TO 010 DEGS.' AT 3000 FT, TCASII ISSUED AN AUDIBLE TA. CAPT ABRUPTLY LEVELED AT APPROX 3300 FT AND RETURNED TO 3000 FT DUE TO TFC DISPLAY AT 12 O'CLOCK AND 3-4 MI LEVEL AT 4000 FT. ATC THEN ADVISED US OF THE TFC. FO PICKED UP A VISUAL AND ADVISED ATC THAT WE HAD TO LEVEL AT 3000 FT TO AVOID A CONFLICT. ATC THEN ASKED US TO CONFIRM WE WERE CLBING TO 3000 FT. FO RESPONDED 'NEGATIVE SIR, YOU GAVE US 6000 FT, AND WE READ IT BACK.' ATC SAID HE HAD MISSED THE READBACK. TFC WAS A LIGHT ACFT AND PASSED DIRECTLY OVERHEAD AT 4000 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.