Narrative:

Departed apa IFR (hard), vectors from den to dvc-J146. Continued at FL260 on J146. Passing page set, just on J146 direct nootn intersection and las VOR 116.9, heading 234 degrees, about 110 mi from las. En route, controller advised to descend to FL240. Then advised to FL200. Below during descent, advised to change frequency 'la' on reaching FL200 (confusion sets in). This controller asked me at what altitude I was at. I told him 'I am just reaching FL200.' he chewed me out that I should have been at FL210. I may have misunderstood. My mind set was for even altitude. 'Ok, if you want, I'll go back to FL210.' he told me 'you are already at FL200, continue down to 15000 ft.' then I got further confused. He asked my heading. I gave it to him and he asked where I was heading. I told him direct las 116.9 direct vgt nlv. He chewed me out on my IFR flight plan J146 who gave me that clearance. My mind set I came on (J146, that's direct las) I was at FL260. Advised to descend to FL240. Then (200 I thought until he chewed me out) I was descending down from FL260 on J146 and that was direct las. (Had not heard any other instruction other than descend (from FL260 J146). To add to the confusion, there were advisories being given to another aircraft with a similar call number. As I got closer, I was trying to get ATIS at vgt. I was trying to understand what this controller was trying to get me to do. Yes, I did get confused. His attitude was not very good. He would give instructions. He gave me meads intersection. I first understood direct meads then as I tried to clarify, he would get upset and change the instructions, then ended up by dumping me to another frequency. I think he was telling me to intercept V8, then V562 direct las direct vgt. I think he upset me (confused). Then he got upset, but I believe he came up on frequency ready for combat.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA46 PLT IS CHALLENGED BY ZLA OVER RTE OF FLT AND ASSIGNED ALTS.

Narrative: DEPARTED APA IFR (HARD), VECTORS FROM DEN TO DVC-J146. CONTINUED AT FL260 ON J146. PASSING PAGE SET, JUST ON J146 DIRECT NOOTN INTXN AND LAS VOR 116.9, HDG 234 DEGS, ABOUT 110 MI FROM LAS. ENRTE, CTLR ADVISED TO DSND TO FL240. THEN ADVISED TO FL200. BELOW DURING DSCNT, ADVISED TO CHANGE FREQ 'LA' ON REACHING FL200 (CONFUSION SETS IN). THIS CTLR ASKED ME AT WHAT ALT I WAS AT. I TOLD HIM 'I AM JUST REACHING FL200.' HE CHEWED ME OUT THAT I SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT FL210. I MAY HAVE MISUNDERSTOOD. MY MIND SET WAS FOR EVEN ALT. 'OK, IF YOU WANT, I'LL GO BACK TO FL210.' HE TOLD ME 'YOU ARE ALREADY AT FL200, CONTINUE DOWN TO 15000 FT.' THEN I GOT FURTHER CONFUSED. HE ASKED MY HDG. I GAVE IT TO HIM AND HE ASKED WHERE I WAS HDG. I TOLD HIM DIRECT LAS 116.9 DIRECT VGT NLV. HE CHEWED ME OUT ON MY IFR FLT PLAN J146 WHO GAVE ME THAT CLRNC. MY MIND SET I CAME ON (J146, THAT'S DIRECT LAS) I WAS AT FL260. ADVISED TO DSND TO FL240. THEN (200 I THOUGHT UNTIL HE CHEWED ME OUT) I WAS DSNDING DOWN FROM FL260 ON J146 AND THAT WAS DIRECT LAS. (HAD NOT HEARD ANY OTHER INSTRUCTION OTHER THAN DSND (FROM FL260 J146). TO ADD TO THE CONFUSION, THERE WERE ADVISORIES BEING GIVEN TO ANOTHER ACFT WITH A SIMILAR CALL NUMBER. AS I GOT CLOSER, I WAS TRYING TO GET ATIS AT VGT. I WAS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS CTLR WAS TRYING TO GET ME TO DO. YES, I DID GET CONFUSED. HIS ATTITUDE WAS NOT VERY GOOD. HE WOULD GIVE INSTRUCTIONS. HE GAVE ME MEADS INTXN. I FIRST UNDERSTOOD DIRECT MEADS THEN AS I TRIED TO CLARIFY, HE WOULD GET UPSET AND CHANGE THE INSTRUCTIONS, THEN ENDED UP BY DUMPING ME TO ANOTHER FREQ. I THINK HE WAS TELLING ME TO INTERCEPT V8, THEN V562 DIRECT LAS DIRECT VGT. I THINK HE UPSET ME (CONFUSED). THEN HE GOT UPSET, BUT I BELIEVE HE CAME UP ON FREQ READY FOR COMBAT.

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.