Altitude deviation.

Attributes
ACN	315950
Time
Date	199509
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : gso
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : gso
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 6000
ASRS Report	315950
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After passing roa we were given descent (16000 ft or 13000 ft) with expect to cross 40 NM north gso at 10000 ft. I took this clearance, first officer was getting ATIS. I set and repeated to him altitude in altitude select alerter. First officer took and read back 'descend to 10000 ft 40 NM north gso.' I think this is what I heard. He set and we both pointed to altitude alert. At 10000 ft ATC said we were to descend to 11000 ft and had us climb to 11000 ft. I asked first officer and FAA personnel what they heard. We 3 believe we heard 10000 ft. There was no traffic and very clear including TCASII. I suspect that the expected clearance could have bamboozled either the controller or us. Possibly it would be best to say 'change clearance and ....' we were very surprised and thought we were doing well. We didn't have tapes?

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV.

Narrative: AFTER PASSING ROA WE WERE GIVEN DSCNT (16000 FT OR 13000 FT) WITH EXPECT TO CROSS 40 NM N GSO AT 10000 FT. I TOOK THIS CLRNC, FO WAS GETTING ATIS. I SET AND REPEATED TO HIM ALT IN ALT SELECT ALERTER. FO TOOK AND READ BACK 'DSND TO 10000 FT 40 NM N GSO.' I THINK THIS IS WHAT I HEARD. HE SET AND WE BOTH POINTED TO ALT ALERT. AT 10000 FT ATC SAID WE WERE TO DSND TO 11000 FT AND HAD US CLB TO 11000 FT. I ASKED FO AND FAA PERSONNEL WHAT THEY HEARD. WE 3 BELIEVE WE HEARD 10000 FT. THERE WAS NO TFC AND VERY CLR INCLUDING TCASII. I SUSPECT THAT THE EXPECTED CLRNC COULD HAVE BAMBOOZLED EITHER THE CTLR OR US. POSSIBLY IT WOULD BE BEST TO SAY 'CHANGE CLRNC AND ....' WE WERE VERY SURPRISED AND THOUGHT WE WERE DOING WELL. WE DIDN'T HAVE TAPES?

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.