Narrative:

Location: 15 mi northeast of eno VOR. During our arrival to ewr via the RBV1, the controller gave us a descent to be at 15000 ft, 15 mi northeast of eno. I read back the clearance as 15 mi and I confirmed 15 mi northeast of eno. Later, as we were leveling at 15000 ft, the controller asked what altitude we were at. I responded 15500 ft for 15000 ft. He informed us that we should be at 19000 ft. Both the captain and I were confused and concerned that we both misunderstood the clearance. The controller said that there must have been some confusion about the clearance. I apologized for any misunderstanding on my part. The controller did not indicate any conflicts or any required action on our parts to resolve the issue. I assume that it was a mutual misunderstanding about the clearance.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757 ACFT ON ARR WAS CLRED TO WHAT FLC HEARD AS 15000 FT, BUT AT 15500 FT CTLR INTERVENED AND SAID THE CLRNC WAS TO FL190.

Narrative: LOCATION: 15 MI NE OF ENO VOR. DURING OUR ARR TO EWR VIA THE RBV1, THE CTLR GAVE US A DSCNT TO BE AT 15000 FT, 15 MI NE OF ENO. I READ BACK THE CLRNC AS 15 MI AND I CONFIRMED 15 MI NE OF ENO. LATER, AS WE WERE LEVELING AT 15000 FT, THE CTLR ASKED WHAT ALT WE WERE AT. I RESPONDED 15500 FT FOR 15000 FT. HE INFORMED US THAT WE SHOULD BE AT 19000 FT. BOTH THE CAPT AND I WERE CONFUSED AND CONCERNED THAT WE BOTH MISUNDERSTOOD THE CLRNC. THE CTLR SAID THAT THERE MUST HAVE BEEN SOME CONFUSION ABOUT THE CLRNC. I APOLOGIZED FOR ANY MISUNDERSTANDING ON MY PART. THE CTLR DID NOT INDICATE ANY CONFLICTS OR ANY REQUIRED ACTION ON OUR PARTS TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. I ASSUME THAT IT WAS A MUTUAL MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE CLRNC.

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.