MD80. Approach controller gave the crew the wrong altitude when issuing their approach clearance.

Attributes
ACN	407170
Time
Date	199806
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : teb airport : ewr
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	407170
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Routine ILS visual runway 22L at ewr. ATC said join the localizer at or above 2000 ft MSL, maintain 180 KTS to the OM, cleared ILS runway 22L approach. We were at 3000 ft and after readback, descended to 2000 ft as we joined the localizer to runway 22L. ATC returned and said, stop descent and maintain 3000 ft till established. I think they possibly realized their mistake or were training, but it appeared to be a harmless mistake as we got no TCASII and ATC said contact the tower, have a nice day. We continued and landed normally.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80. APCH CTLR GAVE THE CREW THE WRONG ALT WHEN ISSUING THEIR APCH CLRNC.

Narrative: ROUTINE ILS VISUAL RWY 22L AT EWR. ATC SAID JOIN THE LOC AT OR ABOVE 2000 FT MSL, MAINTAIN 180 KTS TO THE OM, CLRED ILS RWY 22L APCH. WE WERE AT 3000 FT AND AFTER READBACK, DSNDED TO 2000 FT AS WE JOINED THE LOC TO RWY 22L. ATC RETURNED AND SAID, STOP DSCNT AND MAINTAIN 3000 FT TILL ESTABLISHED. I THINK THEY POSSIBLY REALIZED THEIR MISTAKE OR WERE TRAINING, BUT IT APPEARED TO BE A HARMLESS MISTAKE AS WE GOT NO TCASII AND ATC SAID CONTACT THE TWR, HAVE A NICE DAY. WE CONTINUED AND LANDED NORMALLY.

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.