ATC clearance confusion leads to missed crossing restr.

Attributes
ACN	295659
Time
Date	199502
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lhy
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	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
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	295659
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

We were on a scheduled flight from montreal, canada to philadelphia, PA. The flight was to proceed south from (dny) to (lhy) V-93 lvz V-147 mazi-phl. South of dny, we were cleared direct lvz, and to cross 50 mi north at 17000 ft MSL. After complying with this, we were told, cross lhy at 12000 ft. After reading back, I looked at our FMC displayed route. As we had been cleared direct (lvz) I took the clearance to mean cross lvz at 12000 ft. I had a question at the time about the clearance, which I should have voiced. As were descending towards lvz, the controller queried us in a mocking tone, asking us if were going to make lhy at 12000 ft. We stated that we were just about over lhy, and that it was not on our flight plan. It wasn't as we had been cleared direct lvz. I, in retrospect, should have clarified the clearance, as I initially did have a question. If the controller did in fact notice it, and knew in advance he had doubts, he too should have queried us.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC CLRNC CONFUSION LEADS TO MISSED XING RESTR.

Narrative: WE WERE ON A SCHEDULED FLT FROM MONTREAL, CANADA TO PHILADELPHIA, PA. THE FLT WAS TO PROCEED S FROM (DNY) TO (LHY) V-93 LVZ V-147 MAZI-PHL. S OF DNY, WE WERE CLRED DIRECT LVZ, AND TO CROSS 50 MI N AT 17000 FT MSL. AFTER COMPLYING WITH THIS, WE WERE TOLD, CROSS LHY AT 12000 FT. AFTER READING BACK, I LOOKED AT OUR FMC DISPLAYED RTE. AS WE HAD BEEN CLRED DIRECT (LVZ) I TOOK THE CLRNC TO MEAN CROSS LVZ AT 12000 FT. I HAD A QUESTION AT THE TIME ABOUT THE CLRNC, WHICH I SHOULD HAVE VOICED. AS WERE DSNDING TOWARDS LVZ, THE CTLR QUERIED US IN A MOCKING TONE, ASKING US IF WERE GOING TO MAKE LHY AT 12000 FT. WE STATED THAT WE WERE JUST ABOUT OVER LHY, AND THAT IT WAS NOT ON OUR FLT PLAN. IT WASN'T AS WE HAD BEEN CLRED DIRECT LVZ. I, IN RETROSPECT, SHOULD HAVE CLARIFIED THE CLRNC, AS I INITIALLY DID HAVE A QUESTION. IF THE CTLR DID IN FACT NOTICE IT, AND KNEW IN ADVANCE HE HAD DOUBTS, HE TOO SHOULD HAVE QUERIED US.

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.