Altitude deviation on descent. Miscom between flight crew and ATC on altitude assigned.

Attributes
ACN	335024
Time
Date	199605
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : okc
State Reference	OK
Altitude	msl bound lower : 13600 msl bound upper : 16000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zfw
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 270 flight time total : 5800 flight time type : 4200
ASRS Report	335024
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Captain was PF, I (first officer) read back clearance to descend to 10000 ft, 16000 ft was previously assigned altitude. We questioned each other if we heard the new clearance correctly. We decided we had. We complied and started down. At 13600 ft ATC instructed us to climb back to 16000 ft. We returned to 16000 ft and that was the end of it.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV ON DSCNT. MISCOM BTWN FLC AND ATC ON ALT ASSIGNED.

Narrative: CAPT WAS PF, I (FO) READ BACK CLRNC TO DSND TO 10000 FT, 16000 FT WAS PREVIOUSLY ASSIGNED ALT. WE QUESTIONED EACH OTHER IF WE HEARD THE NEW CLRNC CORRECTLY. WE DECIDED WE HAD. WE COMPLIED AND STARTED DOWN. AT 13600 FT ATC INSTRUCTED US TO CLB BACK TO 16000 FT. WE RETURNED TO 16000 FT AND THAT WAS THE END OF IT.

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.