Narrative:

I was involved in an operational error (loss of standard separation). 2 air traffic facilities were involved (roc and ZOB). The problem arose when aircraft X was issued his IFR clearance. Clearance delivery issued maintain 10000 ft. Aircraft X read back climb and maintain 11000 ft and the incorrect altitude readback was missed. I was working combined radar position. When aircraft X checked in, out of 1200 ft for 11000 ft, I missed the incorrect altitude, turned him on course, handed off aircraft to ZOB and instructed him to change to appropriate frequency. The controller at ZOB missed the incorrect altitude when aircraft X checked on and was not aware that an operational error was developing. The radar associate at ZOB first noticed the situation and alerted the controller who tried to take corrective action by descending aircraft X to 10000 ft. Facility review shows causal factor was the lack of awareness demonstrated by each employee during the altitude readback. In my opinion, the FAA needs to acquire some type of instructional or classroom materials that relate to training air traffic controllers' listening skills. In this area, the actions taken to return each employee involved in this error to operational duty were insufficient.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTLR RPTS CLRNCS DELIVERY, THE CTR CTLR AND HIMSELF, ALL WHO COMMUNICATED WITH ACFT X FAILED TO IDENT INCORRECT READBACK OF ALT INFO.

Narrative: I WAS INVOLVED IN AN OPERROR (LOSS OF STANDARD SEPARATION). 2 AIR TFC FACILITIES WERE INVOLVED (ROC AND ZOB). THE PROB AROSE WHEN ACFT X WAS ISSUED HIS IFR CLRNC. CLRNC DELIVERY ISSUED MAINTAIN 10000 FT. ACFT X READ BACK CLB AND MAINTAIN 11000 FT AND THE INCORRECT ALT READBACK WAS MISSED. I WAS WORKING COMBINED RADAR POS. WHEN ACFT X CHKED IN, OUT OF 1200 FT FOR 11000 FT, I MISSED THE INCORRECT ALT, TURNED HIM ON COURSE, HANDED OFF ACFT TO ZOB AND INSTRUCTED HIM TO CHANGE TO APPROPRIATE FREQ. THE CTLR AT ZOB MISSED THE INCORRECT ALT WHEN ACFT X CHKED ON AND WAS NOT AWARE THAT AN OPERROR WAS DEVELOPING. THE RADAR ASSOCIATE AT ZOB FIRST NOTICED THE SIT AND ALERTED THE CTLR WHO TRIED TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION BY DSNDING ACFT X TO 10000 FT. FACILITY REVIEW SHOWS CAUSAL FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF AWARENESS DEMONSTRATED BY EACH EMPLOYEE DURING THE ALT READBACK. IN MY OPINION, THE FAA NEEDS TO ACQUIRE SOME TYPE OF INSTRUCTIONAL OR CLASSROOM MATERIALS THAT RELATE TO TRAINING AIR TFC CTLRS' LISTENING SKILLS. IN THIS AREA, THE ACTIONS TAKEN TO RETURN EACH EMPLOYEE INVOLVED IN THIS ERROR TO OPERATIONAL DUTY WERE INSUFFICIENT.

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.