Altitude deviation. Miscom between ATC and flight crew.

Attributes
ACN	318290
Time
Date	199510
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pbi
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zma
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 225 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	318290
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 17964 flight time type : 7500
ASRS Report	318405
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

We were en route from lga to pbi and descending from FL350 to FL240. We were then given cross 30 mi north of pbi at 8000 ft. This assignment coincided with the surfn 7 arrival which indicated expect swomp at 8000 ft. (Swomp is 30 mi from pbi). We reached 8000 ft and requested a right deviation for WX which was granted and we were told to go direct pbi when able. Then miami called us and asked if we were assigned 9000 ft. We answered no, we were assigned 8000 ft. We were given a right turn to 270 degrees for traffic. We saw the traffic on the TCASII (he was 1000 ft above us and not climbing or descending), we then were cleared direct pbi. On departure from pbi we were contacted by ZMA and asked to call the watch supervisor. The controller also told us that the tape showed we were cleared to 8000 ft at 30 north of pbi, but later told to stop at 9000 ft, but our reply did not confirm receipt of the 9000 ft communication. In fact, the controller said the only thing on the tape was an altimeter setting readback. When we arrived at clt we called and spoke with ms X of ATC who confirmed we never responded or confirmed to any assignment of altitude other than 8000 ft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV. MISCOM BTWN ATC AND FLC.

Narrative: WE WERE ENRTE FROM LGA TO PBI AND DSNDING FROM FL350 TO FL240. WE WERE THEN GIVEN CROSS 30 MI N OF PBI AT 8000 FT. THIS ASSIGNMENT COINCIDED WITH THE SURFN 7 ARR WHICH INDICATED EXPECT SWOMP AT 8000 FT. (SWOMP IS 30 MI FROM PBI). WE REACHED 8000 FT AND REQUESTED A R DEV FOR WX WHICH WAS GRANTED AND WE WERE TOLD TO GO DIRECT PBI WHEN ABLE. THEN MIAMI CALLED US AND ASKED IF WE WERE ASSIGNED 9000 FT. WE ANSWERED NO, WE WERE ASSIGNED 8000 FT. WE WERE GIVEN A R TURN TO 270 DEGS FOR TFC. WE SAW THE TFC ON THE TCASII (HE WAS 1000 FT ABOVE US AND NOT CLBING OR DSNDING), WE THEN WERE CLRED DIRECT PBI. ON DEP FROM PBI WE WERE CONTACTED BY ZMA AND ASKED TO CALL THE WATCH SUPVR. THE CTLR ALSO TOLD US THAT THE TAPE SHOWED WE WERE CLRED TO 8000 FT AT 30 N OF PBI, BUT LATER TOLD TO STOP AT 9000 FT, BUT OUR REPLY DID NOT CONFIRM RECEIPT OF THE 9000 FT COM. IN FACT, THE CTLR SAID THE ONLY THING ON THE TAPE WAS AN ALTIMETER SETTING READBACK. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT CLT WE CALLED AND SPOKE WITH MS X OF ATC WHO CONFIRMED WE NEVER RESPONDED OR CONFIRMED TO ANY ASSIGNMENT OF ALT OTHER THAN 8000 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.