Pilot and controller disagree on what altitude is assigned for IFR flight in VMC. IFR canceled.

Attributes
ACN	440110
Time
Date	199906
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sgj.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 80
ASRS Report	440110
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Was given descent to 8000 ft by ZJX. Read back 8000 ft. Passing approximately 8800 ft, controller said 'say altitude.' I said 8800 ft descending to 8000 ft. Controller said 'you were cleared to 10000 ft.' I said 'I thought you cleared me to 8000 ft and that's what I read back.' I then canceled IFR and continued VFR to destination.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT AND CTLR DISAGREE ON WHAT ALT IS ASSIGNED FOR IFR FLT IN VMC. IFR CANCELED.

Narrative: WAS GIVEN DSCNT TO 8000 FT BY ZJX. READ BACK 8000 FT. PASSING APPROX 8800 FT, CTLR SAID 'SAY ALT.' I SAID 8800 FT DSNDING TO 8000 FT. CTLR SAID 'YOU WERE CLRED TO 10000 FT.' I SAID 'I THOUGHT YOU CLRED ME TO 8000 FT AND THAT'S WHAT I READ BACK.' I THEN CANCELED IFR AND CONTINUED VFR TO DEST.

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.