Narrative:

Air carrier X flight ab cmh-las. While en route to las and previously cleared direct to nootn intersection, the following clearance was issued by ZLA (frequency 124.2) controller: 'air carrier X, cross nootn intersection at 11000 ft and 250 KTS.' the first officer was off the frequency obtaining arrival ATIS. I questioned the controller to verify he wanted nootn intersection at 11000 ft 250 KTS, and he repeated, 'cross nootn intersection at 11000 ft 250 KTS.' (phigg intersection is a published crossing restr of 11000 ft 250 KTS on the nootn 2 arrival.) during descent through approximately 15000 ft I heard ZLA issue an air carrier Y flight the same clearance and the air carrier Y crew questioned the controller and mentioned that that altitude was 4000 ft below the minimum en route altitude as depicted on the nootn 2 STAR arrival. I then looked closer at the STAR and saw the segment minimum en route altitude at nootn intersection of 15000 ft. I immediately arrested my descent and told the controller what air carrier Y said and asked for and received a clearance to climb back to 15000 ft at nootn intersection. I was later given a clearance to cross phigg intersection at 11000 ft 250 KTS. This same clearance to cross nootn intersection at 11000 ft 250 KTS was issued to at least 2 or 3 other aircraft by ZLA. However, air carrier Y was the only one to notice and remind the controller that it was 4000 ft low! Thank you air carrier Y -- whoever you were! Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter was flying a B757-200 aircraft. He could not believe that he accepted the issued altitude. The pilot is very grateful that at least one pilot in the arrival stream questioned the controller's clearance.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757 WAS CLRED 4000 FT BELOW THE MINIMUM ENRTE ALT BY THE ZLA RADAR CTLR.

Narrative: ACR X FLT AB CMH-LAS. WHILE ENRTE TO LAS AND PREVIOUSLY CLRED DIRECT TO NOOTN INTXN, THE FOLLOWING CLRNC WAS ISSUED BY ZLA (FREQ 124.2) CTLR: 'ACR X, CROSS NOOTN INTXN AT 11000 FT AND 250 KTS.' THE FO WAS OFF THE FREQ OBTAINING ARR ATIS. I QUESTIONED THE CTLR TO VERIFY HE WANTED NOOTN INTXN AT 11000 FT 250 KTS, AND HE REPEATED, 'CROSS NOOTN INTXN AT 11000 FT 250 KTS.' (PHIGG INTXN IS A PUBLISHED XING RESTR OF 11000 FT 250 KTS ON THE NOOTN 2 ARR.) DURING DSCNT THROUGH APPROX 15000 FT I HEARD ZLA ISSUE AN ACR Y FLT THE SAME CLRNC AND THE ACR Y CREW QUESTIONED THE CTLR AND MENTIONED THAT THAT ALT WAS 4000 FT BELOW THE MINIMUM ENRTE ALT AS DEPICTED ON THE NOOTN 2 STAR ARR. I THEN LOOKED CLOSER AT THE STAR AND SAW THE SEGMENT MINIMUM ENRTE ALT AT NOOTN INTXN OF 15000 FT. I IMMEDIATELY ARRESTED MY DSCNT AND TOLD THE CTLR WHAT ACR Y SAID AND ASKED FOR AND RECEIVED A CLRNC TO CLB BACK TO 15000 FT AT NOOTN INTXN. I WAS LATER GIVEN A CLRNC TO CROSS PHIGG INTXN AT 11000 FT 250 KTS. THIS SAME CLRNC TO CROSS NOOTN INTXN AT 11000 FT 250 KTS WAS ISSUED TO AT LEAST 2 OR 3 OTHER ACFT BY ZLA. HOWEVER, ACR Y WAS THE ONLY ONE TO NOTICE AND REMIND THE CTLR THAT IT WAS 4000 FT LOW! THANK YOU ACR Y -- WHOEVER YOU WERE! CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR WAS FLYING A B757-200 ACFT. HE COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT HE ACCEPTED THE ISSUED ALT. THE PLT IS VERY GRATEFUL THAT AT LEAST ONE PLT IN THE ARR STREAM QUESTIONED THE CTLR'S CLRNC.

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.