Narrative:

At 12000 ft center handed us over to approach control, at which time the cockpit crew heard descend to 5000 ft. Cockpit crew selected 5000 ft in altitude select and started descent. Approach then asked if we were in a turn to 1-5-0. Negative was replied. Approach then issued a turn to a heading of 1-4-0. Flight crew selected a heading of 1-4-0. At 7600 ft approach asked to say altitude. At which time the crew replied 7400 ft for 5000 ft. Approach then replied clearance was to 8000 ft. However maintain either 7000 ft or 8000 ft. Flight crew selected 7000 ft. Approach then replied, the mix-up may have occurred between the heading of 1-5-0, and the altitude of 8000 ft. We agreed and continued for normal approach. No conflicts occurred.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A FLC DSNDED BELOW THE ASSIGNED ALT NEAR RDU.

Narrative: AT 12000 FT CTR HANDED US OVER TO APCH CTL, AT WHICH TIME THE COCKPIT CREW HEARD DSND TO 5000 FT. COCKPIT CREW SELECTED 5000 FT IN ALT SELECT AND STARTED DSCNT. APCH THEN ASKED IF WE WERE IN A TURN TO 1-5-0. NEGATIVE WAS REPLIED. APCH THEN ISSUED A TURN TO A HEADING OF 1-4-0. FLC SELECTED A HEADING OF 1-4-0. AT 7600 FT APCH ASKED TO SAY ALT. AT WHICH TIME THE CREW REPLIED 7400 FT FOR 5000 FT. APCH THEN REPLIED CLRNC WAS TO 8000 FT. HOWEVER MAINTAIN EITHER 7000 FT OR 8000 FT. FLC SELECTED 7000 FT. APCH THEN REPLIED, THE MIX-UP MAY HAVE OCCURRED BTWN THE HEADING OF 1-5-0, AND THE ALT OF 8000 FT. WE AGREED AND CONTINUED FOR NORMAL APCH. NO CONFLICTS OCCURRED.

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.