When revised clearance is not received by the flight crew, the controller questions their descent be...

Attributes
ACN	507150
Time
Date	200104
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : lgc.vortac
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 24600 msl bound upper : 25000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : la grange
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	507150
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

North of montgomery, al, we were given direct lgc. We had been on the lagrange arrival, meridian transition to atl. 60 DME west of lgc at FL330, received clearance to descend to FL240, expedite through FL290. Passing FL290, I adjusted rate of descent to 1000 FPM. We were advised to expect a turn in holding at lgc. We were authority/authorized to reduce airspeed. We slowed to 250 KIAS and advised ATC of speed. Passing FL246, ZTL asked us our altitude. Neither pilot had any reason to think anything was wrong. Controller stated that he had issued a stop descent at FL250, but he added that he did not receive our readback. We had FL240 in the altitude window and never heard anything about a leveloff at FL250. No other aircraft were seen visually or on TCASII. I suspect it was for the lgc holding pattern. I expeditiously flew from FL245 back to FL250. I can only guess that the controller may have intended FL250 about the same time we were slowing/advising him of our speed of 250 KIAS. The controller seemed very calm. I, however, did not enjoy the query. I hope to do my part in getting the communications right next time. Between FL180 and FL330, words like 'flight level' and 'KTS' make a big difference, ie, 'maintain 250.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WHEN REVISED CLRNC IS NOT RECEIVED BY THE FLT CREW, THE CTLR QUESTIONS THEIR DSCNT BELOW THE NEWLY ASSIGNED ALT MUCH TO THE DISPLEASURE OF THE CREW.

Narrative: N OF MONTGOMERY, AL, WE WERE GIVEN DIRECT LGC. WE HAD BEEN ON THE LAGRANGE ARR, MERIDIAN TRANSITION TO ATL. 60 DME W OF LGC AT FL330, RECEIVED CLRNC TO DSND TO FL240, EXPEDITE THROUGH FL290. PASSING FL290, I ADJUSTED RATE OF DSCNT TO 1000 FPM. WE WERE ADVISED TO EXPECT A TURN IN HOLDING AT LGC. WE WERE AUTH TO REDUCE AIRSPD. WE SLOWED TO 250 KIAS AND ADVISED ATC OF SPD. PASSING FL246, ZTL ASKED US OUR ALT. NEITHER PLT HAD ANY REASON TO THINK ANYTHING WAS WRONG. CTLR STATED THAT HE HAD ISSUED A STOP DSCNT AT FL250, BUT HE ADDED THAT HE DID NOT RECEIVE OUR READBACK. WE HAD FL240 IN THE ALT WINDOW AND NEVER HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT A LEVELOFF AT FL250. NO OTHER ACFT WERE SEEN VISUALLY OR ON TCASII. I SUSPECT IT WAS FOR THE LGC HOLDING PATTERN. I EXPEDITIOUSLY FLEW FROM FL245 BACK TO FL250. I CAN ONLY GUESS THAT THE CTLR MAY HAVE INTENDED FL250 ABOUT THE SAME TIME WE WERE SLOWING/ADVISING HIM OF OUR SPD OF 250 KIAS. THE CTLR SEEMED VERY CALM. I, HOWEVER, DID NOT ENJOY THE QUERY. I HOPE TO DO MY PART IN GETTING THE COMS RIGHT NEXT TIME. BTWN FL180 AND FL330, WORDS LIKE 'FLT LEVEL' AND 'KTS' MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE, IE, 'MAINTAIN 250.'

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.

When revised clearance is not received by the flight crew, the controller questions their descent below the newly assigned altitude much to the displeasure of the crew.