Flight crew of a dehavilland DHC8 read back descent altitude to ARTCC controller and descended to that altitude only to be questioned by controller as to the altitude assigned.

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Attributes
ACN	448524
Time
Date	199909
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : phx.airport
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl single value : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Dash 8 Series Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 60
ASRS Report	448524
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert none taken : detected after the fact other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were given a descent to 10000 ft. I read the clearance back slowly and carefully to verify 10000 ft. The controller did not respond which is normal, I assumed we had the correct altitude. 10000 ft was not normal for this route of flight which is why I read it back carefully. Later, after advising at 10000 ft, the controller was unsure of the altitude we had been assigned and queried us. The possibility exists I could have gotten the altitude wrong initially. I don't think I would be responsible for being off altitude, that is why I read it back.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF A DEHAVILLAND DHC8 READ BACK DSCNT ALT TO ARTCC CTLR AND DSNDED TO THAT ALT ONLY TO BE QUESTIONED BY CTLR AS TO THE ALT ASSIGNED.

Narrative: WE WERE GIVEN A DSCNT TO 10000 FT. I READ THE CLRNC BACK SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY TO VERIFY 10000 FT. THE CTLR DID NOT RESPOND WHICH IS NORMAL, I ASSUMED WE HAD THE CORRECT ALT. 10000 FT WAS NOT NORMAL FOR THIS RTE OF FLT WHICH IS WHY I READ IT BACK CAREFULLY. LATER, AFTER ADVISING AT 10000 FT, THE CTLR WAS UNSURE OF THE ALT WE HAD BEEN ASSIGNED AND QUERIED US. THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS I COULD HAVE GOTTEN THE ALT WRONG INITIALLY. I DON'T THINK I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR BEING OFF ALT, THAT IS WHY I READ IT BACK.

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.