B727-200 receives TCASII RA while descending to disputed cleared altitude at den.

Attributes
ACN	439911
Time
Date	199906
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : den.airport
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11600 msl bound upper : 13000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : d01.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : d01.tracon
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 1800
ASRS Report	439911
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude altitude deviation : overshoot conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : far non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	atc equipment : conflict alert other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to original clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

We were cleared to turn right heading 280 degrees, descend and maintain 11000 ft. Descending through approximately 12000 ft, we noticed converging aircraft on TCASII at 10 O'clock, apparently climbing toward our altitude. We acquired traffic visually. Shortly thereafter, we heard and saw a TCASII RA commanding a 'climb.' the PF (first officer) initiated climb to approximately 12000 ft and heard 'clear of conflict,' we advised ATC 'RA, climbing.' shortly after initiating climb and were told by ATC that we were cleared to 13000 ft. All 3 crew members agreed we heard 11000 ft and the PF and PNF used company SOP in verifying cleared altitude by pointing to and announcing the cleared altitude. I called the TRACON supervisor on the phone who advised me that there was no loss of separation. He said they would listen to the tape to find out who was mistaken and would call me back to let me know. I haven't heard back from him yet.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727-200 RECEIVES TCASII RA WHILE DSNDING TO DISPUTED CLRED ALT AT DEN.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED TO TURN R HDG 280 DEGS, DSND AND MAINTAIN 11000 FT. DSNDING THROUGH APPROX 12000 FT, WE NOTICED CONVERGING ACFT ON TCASII AT 10 O'CLOCK, APPARENTLY CLBING TOWARD OUR ALT. WE ACQUIRED TFC VISUALLY. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WE HEARD AND SAW A TCASII RA COMMANDING A 'CLB.' THE PF (FO) INITIATED CLB TO APPROX 12000 FT AND HEARD 'CLR OF CONFLICT,' WE ADVISED ATC 'RA, CLBING.' SHORTLY AFTER INITIATING CLB AND WERE TOLD BY ATC THAT WE WERE CLRED TO 13000 FT. ALL 3 CREW MEMBERS AGREED WE HEARD 11000 FT AND THE PF AND PNF USED COMPANY SOP IN VERIFYING CLRED ALT BY POINTING TO AND ANNOUNCING THE CLRED ALT. I CALLED THE TRACON SUPVR ON THE PHONE WHO ADVISED ME THAT THERE WAS NO LOSS OF SEPARATION. HE SAID THEY WOULD LISTEN TO THE TAPE TO FIND OUT WHO WAS MISTAKEN AND WOULD CALL ME BACK TO LET ME KNOW. I HAVEN'T HEARD BACK FROM HIM YET.

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.