B727-200 crew had altitude deviation in mem class B airspace.

Attributes
ACN	498954
Time
Date	200101
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mem.airport
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mem.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : 27
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	498954
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	498950
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : issued alert
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

Cleared to descend to 3000 ft and intercept localizer runway 27 at mem. Approach control asked if we had field in sight, then cleared us for visual approach. Subsequently asked for our altitude. We replied 2500 ft on visual. Controller stated we had taken approach clearance for company flight, then cleared us for visual approach runway 27. If we misunderstood the clearance, then all 3 of us heard it wrong. Busy frequency, but not overloaded.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727-200 CREW HAD ALTDEV IN MEM CLASS B AIRSPACE.

Narrative: CLRED TO DSND TO 3000 FT AND INTERCEPT LOC RWY 27 AT MEM. APCH CTL ASKED IF WE HAD FIELD IN SIGHT, THEN CLRED US FOR VISUAL APCH. SUBSEQUENTLY ASKED FOR OUR ALT. WE REPLIED 2500 FT ON VISUAL. CTLR STATED WE HAD TAKEN APCH CLRNC FOR COMPANY FLT, THEN CLRED US FOR VISUAL APCH RWY 27. IF WE MISUNDERSTOOD THE CLRNC, THEN ALL 3 OF US HEARD IT WRONG. BUSY FREQ, BUT NOT OVERLOADED.

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.