Narrative:

ZNY gave us a descent clearance to cross 5 mi south of lrp at 11000 ft. We were 15 mi northeast lrp, at approximately 23000 ft. I read back the clearance to cross 5 mi southwest of lrp at 11000 ft. As we were expediting the descent we had 2 RA's. We had positive visual contact of both aircraft. No evasive action was taken. On the ground at iad, I called ZNY and talked to a supervisor. He informed me that the tapes were pulled and the controller was in error and meant the clearance for another aircraft. We did exactly what we were told to do. I would like to know why(?) when a controller makes a mistake it is called a 'system' error or deviation, but if I as a 'pilot' make a mistake it is called 'pilot error!' the supervisor said that we did not have a near miss but it was close.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PREPARING FOR DSCNT TO IAD, FLC ON B737 RECEIVES CLRNC FOR DSCNT FROM FL230 TO 11000 FT. DURING DSCNT THE CREW RECEIVES 2 TCASII RA'S AND SAW BOTH ACFT, A B737 AND A JETSTREAM. NO EVASIVE ACTION WAS NECESSARY.

Narrative: ZNY GAVE US A DSCNT CLRNC TO CROSS 5 MI S OF LRP AT 11000 FT. WE WERE 15 MI NE LRP, AT APPROX 23000 FT. I READ BACK THE CLRNC TO CROSS 5 MI SW OF LRP AT 11000 FT. AS WE WERE EXPEDITING THE DSCNT WE HAD 2 RA'S. WE HAD POSITIVE VISUAL CONTACT OF BOTH ACFT. NO EVASIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN. ON THE GND AT IAD, I CALLED ZNY AND TALKED TO A SUPVR. HE INFORMED ME THAT THE TAPES WERE PULLED AND THE CTLR WAS IN ERROR AND MEANT THE CLRNC FOR ANOTHER ACFT. WE DID EXACTLY WHAT WE WERE TOLD TO DO. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY(?) WHEN A CTLR MAKES A MISTAKE IT IS CALLED A 'SYS' ERROR OR DEV, BUT IF I AS A 'PLT' MAKE A MISTAKE IT IS CALLED 'PLT ERROR!' THE SUPVR SAID THAT WE DID NOT HAVE A NEAR MISS BUT IT WAS CLOSE.

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.