Flight crew misunderstood ATC clearance.

Attributes
ACN	433532
Time
Date	199904
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : vwv.vor
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl single value : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	arrival star : wakem two
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	433532
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Chart Or Publication Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

Our arrival filed and cleared was, vwv. Wakem 2 to cle. About over vwv, we received the following clearance: 'xxxxx, cleared to wakem, advise when ready to copy holding instructions.' we replied: 'roger, direct wakem, ready to copy.' 1/2 way to wakem it became clear that controller had intended for us to fly arrival routing vwv direct elija direct wakem, not direct. This was a classic case of incorrect 'hearback' not catching a miscom. Very interesting note: exactly 1 week later, same flight, same spot (vwv), different clear, we were told: 'xxxxx, your clearance limit is now wakem, expect holding.' a much clrer way to express the same thought!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC MISUNDERSTOOD ATC CLRNC.

Narrative: OUR ARR FILED AND CLRED WAS, VWV. WAKEM 2 TO CLE. ABOUT OVER VWV, WE RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING CLRNC: 'XXXXX, CLRED TO WAKEM, ADVISE WHEN READY TO COPY HOLDING INSTRUCTIONS.' WE REPLIED: 'ROGER, DIRECT WAKEM, READY TO COPY.' 1/2 WAY TO WAKEM IT BECAME CLR THAT CTLR HAD INTENDED FOR US TO FLY ARR ROUTING VWV DIRECT ELIJA DIRECT WAKEM, NOT DIRECT. THIS WAS A CLASSIC CASE OF INCORRECT 'HEARBACK' NOT CATCHING A MISCOM. VERY INTERESTING NOTE: EXACTLY 1 WK LATER, SAME FLT, SAME SPOT (VWV), DIFFERENT CLR, WE WERE TOLD: 'XXXXX, YOUR CLRNC LIMIT IS NOW WAKEM, EXPECT HOLDING.' A MUCH CLRER WAY TO EXPRESS THE SAME THOUGHT!

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.