Narrative:

Received clearance to cross 50 mi northeast of sie at a specific altitude. PNF read back '5000 ft, 50 mi northeast of sie.' PF set 5000 ft in altitude reminder. Passing 6000 ft for 5000 ft the controller stated clearance was for 8000 ft 50 mi northeast of sie. He then 'reclred' us to maintain 5000 ft. Contributing factor -- if controller did indeed say '8000 ft,' our readback of '5000 ft' was not corrected. If controller erred by issuing 5000 ft by mistake, readback was also not corrected. Although controllers may not be required to confirm a readback I feel this may sometimes contribute to misunderstood clrncs.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR LTT FLC DSNDED TO 5000 FT AFTER RECEIVING A CLRNC AND READING IT BACK. THE CTLR RECLRED THE FLC TO 5000 FT.

Narrative: RECEIVED CLRNC TO CROSS 50 MI NE OF SIE AT A SPECIFIC ALT. PNF READ BACK '5000 FT, 50 MI NE OF SIE.' PF SET 5000 FT IN ALT REMINDER. PASSING 6000 FT FOR 5000 FT THE CTLR STATED CLRNC WAS FOR 8000 FT 50 MI NE OF SIE. HE THEN 'RECLRED' US TO MAINTAIN 5000 FT. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR -- IF CTLR DID INDEED SAY '8000 FT,' OUR READBACK OF '5000 FT' WAS NOT CORRECTED. IF CTLR ERRED BY ISSUING 5000 FT BY MISTAKE, READBACK WAS ALSO NOT CORRECTED. ALTHOUGH CTLRS MAY NOT BE REQUIRED TO CONFIRM A READBACK I FEEL THIS MAY SOMETIMES CONTRIBUTE TO MISUNDERSTOOD CLRNCS.

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.