A B757-200 is given a premature descent when the controller at ZID gets confused as to aircraft iden...

Attributes
ACN	495600
Time
Date	200011
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : vhp.vortac
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 20000 msl bound upper : 24000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B767-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Route In Use	arrival star : tarne
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
ASRS Report	495600
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : separated traffic controller : issued alert
Consequence	faa : investigated other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On the tarne arrival into cvg, we were descending to FL230. Flight las to cvg. We were instructed to change frequencys. Changed to ZID. On initial contact, we checked in 'flight adfo FL230.' response from ZID was 'roger, FL200 direct to shb.' we interpreted this as a clearance, both altitude and route. However, to be sure, we read back 'roger, descend (emphasis) to FL200, direct shb.' we then descended to FL200 and changed our route to go directly to shb. During the descent, the controller quizzed us on our altitude. We responded 'descending to FL200 assigned.' we did notice an aircraft on our TCASII about 9-10 mi away. The controller responded to expedite to FL200. He seemed flustered. He then cleared us direct to vhp which we responded that we had been already cleared to shb (vhp was behind us). He responded 'roger.' the next controller stated there seemed to be a misunderstanding and gave us a phone number to call when we got on the ground (FAA quality assurance). Once we landed, the captain called and got a recording. We headed to our personal residences. The captain called the company, who then contacted ZID. They stated that there was no problem and it was 'controller error.' next time, we will be sure to get the controller to state his clearance correctly, or at least clarify what he wants.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B757-200 IS GIVEN A PREMATURE DSCNT WHEN THE CTLR AT ZID GETS CONFUSED AS TO ACFT IDENT POS AND STRUGGLED TO MAINTAIN TFC SEPARATION 20 MI S OF VHP, IN.

Narrative: ON THE TARNE ARR INTO CVG, WE WERE DSNDING TO FL230. FLT LAS TO CVG. WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO CHANGE FREQS. CHANGED TO ZID. ON INITIAL CONTACT, WE CHKED IN 'FLT ADFO FL230.' RESPONSE FROM ZID WAS 'ROGER, FL200 DIRECT TO SHB.' WE INTERPED THIS AS A CLRNC, BOTH ALT AND RTE. HOWEVER, TO BE SURE, WE READ BACK 'ROGER, DSND (EMPHASIS) TO FL200, DIRECT SHB.' WE THEN DSNDED TO FL200 AND CHANGED OUR RTE TO GO DIRECTLY TO SHB. DURING THE DSCNT, THE CTLR QUIZZED US ON OUR ALT. WE RESPONDED 'DSNDING TO FL200 ASSIGNED.' WE DID NOTICE AN ACFT ON OUR TCASII ABOUT 9-10 MI AWAY. THE CTLR RESPONDED TO EXPEDITE TO FL200. HE SEEMED FLUSTERED. HE THEN CLRED US DIRECT TO VHP WHICH WE RESPONDED THAT WE HAD BEEN ALREADY CLRED TO SHB (VHP WAS BEHIND US). HE RESPONDED 'ROGER.' THE NEXT CTLR STATED THERE SEEMED TO BE A MISUNDERSTANDING AND GAVE US A PHONE NUMBER TO CALL WHEN WE GOT ON THE GND (FAA QUALITY ASSURANCE). ONCE WE LANDED, THE CAPT CALLED AND GOT A RECORDING. WE HEADED TO OUR PERSONAL RESIDENCES. THE CAPT CALLED THE COMPANY, WHO THEN CONTACTED ZID. THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NO PROB AND IT WAS 'CTLR ERROR.' NEXT TIME, WE WILL BE SURE TO GET THE CTLR TO STATE HIS CLRNC CORRECTLY, OR AT LEAST CLARIFY WHAT HE WANTS.

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.

A B757-200 is given a premature descent when the controller at ZID gets confused as to aircraft identify position and struggled to maintain traffic separation 20 mi south of vhp, in.