Altitude deviation possible overshoot on descent.

Attributes
ACN	304306
Time
Date	199505
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mdw
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mdw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time total : 9000
ASRS Report	304306
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 270 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	304430
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Both first officer and I thought we were cleared to 4000 ft. Approach control said we were cleared to 5000 ft. Controller stated there was no problem and to have a nice day. We believe the cause to either be: we did not listen correctly, or the controller misstated the cleared altitude.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV POSSIBLE OVERSHOOT ON DSCNT.

Narrative: BOTH FO AND I THOUGHT WE WERE CLRED TO 4000 FT. APCH CTL SAID WE WERE CLRED TO 5000 FT. CTLR STATED THERE WAS NO PROB AND TO HAVE A NICE DAY. WE BELIEVE THE CAUSE TO EITHER BE: WE DID NOT LISTEN CORRECTLY, OR THE CTLR MISSTATED THE CLRED ALT.

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.