A DC9 received an amended altitude. The reporter seems to feel this is unusual.

Attributes
ACN	433627
Time
Date	199904
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : clt.vortac
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl single value : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
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 : 16700 flight time type : 10000
ASRS Report	433627
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Independent Detector	other flight crewa

Narrative:

We had been cleared to FL280. ZTL said, amend altitude to FL290. First officer read back new clearance and reset altitude alert to FL290. I repeated clearance as per procedures. Going through FL198, center said, maintain present altitude for traffic. We leveled off and observed traffic on TCASII go by approximately 5 mi away and 2300 ft above. I believe ZTL intended to level us off at FL190 but did not say what he meant.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DC9 RECEIVED AN AMENDED ALT. THE RPTR SEEMS TO FEEL THIS IS UNUSUAL.

Narrative: WE HAD BEEN CLRED TO FL280. ZTL SAID, AMEND ALT TO FL290. FO READ BACK NEW CLRNC AND RESET ALT ALERT TO FL290. I REPEATED CLRNC AS PER PROCS. GOING THROUGH FL198, CTR SAID, MAINTAIN PRESENT ALT FOR TFC. WE LEVELED OFF AND OBSERVED TFC ON TCASII GO BY APPROX 5 MI AWAY AND 2300 FT ABOVE. I BELIEVE ZTL INTENDED TO LEVEL US OFF AT FL190 BUT DID NOT SAY WHAT HE MEANT.

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.