A320 flight crew challenges ZAB controller's comment that the flight crew climbed through a lower, a...

Attributes
ACN	514036
Time
Date	200106
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : las.airport
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 27000 msl bound upper : 28000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 120
ASRS Report	514036
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar aircraft equipment : tcas other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Consequence	faa : investigated faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

I was PF, en route to sea. South of las, ZAB told us to climb to FL280. Captain read back '280' and I changed altitude select window to '280.' captain confirmed, as is company SOP. Approximately FL270, we received a TCASII TA. The alert target was ahead/left. Approximately FL274, ZAB called and aid 'go back to FL260.' as we started back down, target aircraft passed high and behind, no TCASII RA was issued. ZAB said our instructions were to climb/maintain FL260. When we advised we were given FL280, ZAB gave us a phone number to call and aid we have a possible 'pilot altitude deviation.' we told ZAB to pull and mark the tape. About 5 mins later, after switching to ZLA, we were told that calling ZAB would no longer be required. We did call ZAB after landing in sea and was told controller was at fault and not to worry.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 FLC CHALLENGES ZAB CTLR'S COMMENT THAT THE FLC CLBED THROUGH A LOWER, ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: I WAS PF, ENRTE TO SEA. S OF LAS, ZAB TOLD US TO CLB TO FL280. CAPT READ BACK '280' AND I CHANGED ALT SELECT WINDOW TO '280.' CAPT CONFIRMED, AS IS COMPANY SOP. APPROX FL270, WE RECEIVED A TCASII TA. THE ALERT TARGET WAS AHEAD/L. APPROX FL274, ZAB CALLED AND AID 'GO BACK TO FL260.' AS WE STARTED BACK DOWN, TARGET ACFT PASSED HIGH AND BEHIND, NO TCASII RA WAS ISSUED. ZAB SAID OUR INSTRUCTIONS WERE TO CLB/MAINTAIN FL260. WHEN WE ADVISED WE WERE GIVEN FL280, ZAB GAVE US A PHONE NUMBER TO CALL AND AID WE HAVE A POSSIBLE 'PLT ALTDEV.' WE TOLD ZAB TO PULL AND MARK THE TAPE. ABOUT 5 MINS LATER, AFTER SWITCHING TO ZLA, WE WERE TOLD THAT CALLING ZAB WOULD NO LONGER BE REQUIRED. WE DID CALL ZAB AFTER LNDG IN SEA AND WAS TOLD CTLR WAS AT FAULT AND NOT TO WORRY.

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.

A320 flight crew challenges ZAB controller's comment that the flight crew climbed through a lower, assigned altitude.