MD80 crew had ATC assign an altitude that was not received by the crew.

Attributes
ACN	473570
Time
Date	200005
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : mem.vor
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28000 msl bound upper : 32000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : vacating altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	controller military : 14 flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 10000
ASRS Report	473570
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

Climbing through approximately FL320 to a final altitude of FL350, center called asking if we missed the call to level at FL280. He directed a right turn to 300 degrees and descent to FL280, later changed to FL290. There wasn't any TCASII advisory and there wasn't any visual contact. Without the benefit of the voice tapes I'm not sure if there was an error by my aircraft or the controller. At the time of this occurrence there were no distrs in the cockpit that we recall. The radio traffic had been busy up to this point. We were on our third flight of the day after XA00 pm for both of us. This reinforces the need for increased vigilance upon pilots and controllers. Pilots need to confirm with each other ATC clrncs and if there is a question, ask ATC to be clear. My airline has a double point procedure to help both pilots confirm an altitude clearance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 CREW HAD ATC ASSIGN AN ALT THAT WAS NOT RECEIVED BY THE CREW.

Narrative: CLBING THROUGH APPROX FL320 TO A FINAL ALT OF FL350, CTR CALLED ASKING IF WE MISSED THE CALL TO LEVEL AT FL280. HE DIRECTED A R TURN TO 300 DEGS AND DSCNT TO FL280, LATER CHANGED TO FL290. THERE WASN'T ANY TCASII ADVISORY AND THERE WASN'T ANY VISUAL CONTACT. WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF THE VOICE TAPES I'M NOT SURE IF THERE WAS AN ERROR BY MY ACFT OR THE CTLR. AT THE TIME OF THIS OCCURRENCE THERE WERE NO DISTRS IN THE COCKPIT THAT WE RECALL. THE RADIO TFC HAD BEEN BUSY UP TO THIS POINT. WE WERE ON OUR THIRD FLT OF THE DAY AFTER XA00 PM FOR BOTH OF US. THIS REINFORCES THE NEED FOR INCREASED VIGILANCE UPON PLTS AND CTLRS. PLTS NEED TO CONFIRM WITH EACH OTHER ATC CLRNCS AND IF THERE IS A QUESTION, ASK ATC TO BE CLR. MY AIRLINE HAS A DOUBLE POINT PROC TO HELP BOTH PLTS CONFIRM AN ALT 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.