Narrative:

After departure from bfd airport I was cleared to 4000 ft MSL south. After entering the cloud, I started to pick up light to moderate rime ice. I requested 7000 ft and got the response that he had incoming traffic and if I still wanted higher I would be vectored out of my way. I responded that that was alright because I wanted to get up above the clouds and icing. Controller then told me (what I thought) to turn to heading of 275 degrees and climb to 5000 ft. I responded 'my call sign, right turn to 275 degrees, climb to 5000 ft looking for 7000 ft.' nothing further was said until I reached 5000 ft and had leveled off. Then, the controller asked me if I had problem with understanding my clearance to 4000 ft. I responded with repeating what I had read back earlier and apologized if there was any misunderstanding and immediately commenced a descent towards 4000 ft. Upon reaching 4800 ft, I got cleared to 7000 ft (at that time, with approximately 3/4 inch of ice on the wings). When I was switched to next controller I was again asked about the incident and told that I had been too close to the incoming traffic to bfd. They gave me the phone number to the controling agency where I spoke to a supervisor who already had pulled the tape and basically confirmed the story above. In the conversation I was informed that at this time it was the controller's responsibility to correct my readback and that I and my company will receive a report on the incident, and also the hearback/readback program. Nothing further was said from then on.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: THE PLT OF AN SMT READ BACK A CLRNC THAT WAS APPARENTLY FOR ANOTHER ACFT. THE RPTR WAS IN ICING CONDITIONS AND HAD REQUESTED A HIGHER ALT FROM ATC. SUBSEQUENT REVIEW OF THE INCIDENT REVEALED THAT THE RPTR'S ACFT HAD COME CLOSE TO BFD ARR TFC.

Narrative: AFTER DEP FROM BFD ARPT I WAS CLRED TO 4000 FT MSL S. AFTER ENTERING THE CLOUD, I STARTED TO PICK UP LIGHT TO MODERATE RIME ICE. I REQUESTED 7000 FT AND GOT THE RESPONSE THAT HE HAD INCOMING TFC AND IF I STILL WANTED HIGHER I WOULD BE VECTORED OUT OF MY WAY. I RESPONDED THAT THAT WAS ALRIGHT BECAUSE I WANTED TO GET UP ABOVE THE CLOUDS AND ICING. CTLR THEN TOLD ME (WHAT I THOUGHT) TO TURN TO HDG OF 275 DEGS AND CLB TO 5000 FT. I RESPONDED 'MY CALL SIGN, R TURN TO 275 DEGS, CLB TO 5000 FT LOOKING FOR 7000 FT.' NOTHING FURTHER WAS SAID UNTIL I REACHED 5000 FT AND HAD LEVELED OFF. THEN, THE CTLR ASKED ME IF I HAD PROB WITH UNDERSTANDING MY CLRNC TO 4000 FT. I RESPONDED WITH REPEATING WHAT I HAD READ BACK EARLIER AND APOLOGIZED IF THERE WAS ANY MISUNDERSTANDING AND IMMEDIATELY COMMENCED A DSCNT TOWARDS 4000 FT. UPON REACHING 4800 FT, I GOT CLRED TO 7000 FT (AT THAT TIME, WITH APPROX 3/4 INCH OF ICE ON THE WINGS). WHEN I WAS SWITCHED TO NEXT CTLR I WAS AGAIN ASKED ABOUT THE INCIDENT AND TOLD THAT I HAD BEEN TOO CLOSE TO THE INCOMING TFC TO BFD. THEY GAVE ME THE PHONE NUMBER TO THE CTLING AGENCY WHERE I SPOKE TO A SUPVR WHO ALREADY HAD PULLED THE TAPE AND BASICALLY CONFIRMED THE STORY ABOVE. IN THE CONVERSATION I WAS INFORMED THAT AT THIS TIME IT WAS THE CTLR'S RESPONSIBILITY TO CORRECT MY READBACK AND THAT I AND MY COMPANY WILL RECEIVE A RPT ON THE INCIDENT, AND ALSO THE HEARBACK/READBACK PROGRAM. NOTHING FURTHER WAS SAID FROM THEN ON.

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.