B737 flight crew misunderstands assigned crossing altitude.

Attributes
ACN	434990
Time
Date	199904
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : hnk.vor
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 24000 msl bound upper : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 14000
ASRS Report	43490
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Airspace Structure ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were told to cross east of hancock VOR at FL290. We read back and descended to FL240.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 FLC MISUNDERSTANDS ASSIGNED XING ALT.

Narrative: WE WERE TOLD TO CROSS E OF HANCOCK VOR AT FL290. WE READ BACK AND DSNDED TO FL240.

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.