B712 crew was given an incorrect altitude by the N90 approach controller.

Attributes
ACN	475120
Time
Date	200006
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ewr.airport
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5200 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon tower : rdg.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 6700 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	475120
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance FAA
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

On vectored approach for visual to runway 4L ewr. Cleared to descend to 4000 ft from previous altitude of 6000 ft and turn to 130 degree heading. I read back clearance and ATC acknowledged with 'roger.' upon passing 5200 ft for 4000 ft, controller told us to level at 5000 ft and that we only had been cleared to 6000 ft. Both first officer and I heard the clearance to be 4000 ft and confirmed it when set in altitude alerter. There was no conflict with traffic and traffic was relatively light. The controllers often speak too fast in northeast corridor and both pilots and ATC must concentrate on proper readbacks.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B712 CREW WAS GIVEN AN INCORRECT ALT BY THE N90 APCH CTLR.

Narrative: ON VECTORED APCH FOR VISUAL TO RWY 4L EWR. CLRED TO DSND TO 4000 FT FROM PREVIOUS ALT OF 6000 FT AND TURN TO 130 DEG HDG. I READ BACK CLRNC AND ATC ACKNOWLEDGED WITH 'ROGER.' UPON PASSING 5200 FT FOR 4000 FT, CTLR TOLD US TO LEVEL AT 5000 FT AND THAT WE ONLY HAD BEEN CLRED TO 6000 FT. BOTH FO AND I HEARD THE CLRNC TO BE 4000 FT AND CONFIRMED IT WHEN SET IN ALT ALERTER. THERE WAS NO CONFLICT WITH TFC AND TFC WAS RELATIVELY LIGHT. THE CTLRS OFTEN SPEAK TOO FAST IN NE CORRIDOR AND BOTH PLTS AND ATC MUST CONCENTRATE ON PROPER READBACKS.

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.