Narrative:

Operating dfw to stl on nov/xx/94, we were holding due to thunderstorms in the area of the stl airport. While holding at 24000 ft, we believe we received a clearance to fly a 360 degree heading to intercept the stl 327 degree radial for the arrival, and to descend so as to cross the lorle intersection at 11000 ft. We read back the clearance and started our descent. After descending about 1500 ft, the TCASII gave us a TA. I saw on the TCASII that the aircraft was in our general flight path about 2000 ft below us. I immediately started a climb back to a higher altitude. Shortly thereafter, ATC advised us our assigned altitude was 24000 ft. We do not know who is at fault. The situation was that everybody was very busy due to the WX. We believe we were cleared to a lower altitude, we read back our clearance to do as we were instructed. In addition, we had an acm on board who is a check captain who also heard the clearance and thought we were correct. The TCASII was the reason the problem was discovered early.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLTDEV.

Narrative: OPERATING DFW TO STL ON NOV/XX/94, WE WERE HOLDING DUE TO TSTMS IN THE AREA OF THE STL ARPT. WHILE HOLDING AT 24000 FT, WE BELIEVE WE RECEIVED A CLRNC TO FLY A 360 DEG HDG TO INTERCEPT THE STL 327 DEG RADIAL FOR THE ARR, AND TO DSND SO AS TO CROSS THE LORLE INTXN AT 11000 FT. WE READ BACK THE CLRNC AND STARTED OUR DSCNT. AFTER DSNDING ABOUT 1500 FT, THE TCASII GAVE US A TA. I SAW ON THE TCASII THAT THE ACFT WAS IN OUR GENERAL FLT PATH ABOUT 2000 FT BELOW US. I IMMEDIATELY STARTED A CLB BACK TO A HIGHER ALT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, ATC ADVISED US OUR ASSIGNED ALT WAS 24000 FT. WE DO NOT KNOW WHO IS AT FAULT. THE SIT WAS THAT EVERYBODY WAS VERY BUSY DUE TO THE WX. WE BELIEVE WE WERE CLRED TO A LOWER ALT, WE READ BACK OUR CLRNC TO DO AS WE WERE INSTRUCTED. IN ADDITION, WE HAD AN ACM ON BOARD WHO IS A CHK CAPT WHO ALSO HEARD THE CLRNC AND THOUGHT WE WERE CORRECT. THE TCASII WAS THE REASON THE PROB WAS DISCOVERED EARLY.

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.