ZOB controller recognizes wrong altitude assigned as air carrier climbs through intended altitude.

Attributes
ACN	520471
Time
Date	200108
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : miget
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 30500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute airway : j146.airway
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 2400
ASRS Report	520471
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

We were at FL250 awaiting clearance to our final cruising altitude of FL330. We received a clearance to FL310 and acknowledged same. As we passed through FL305, the controller instructed us to maintain FL310. We acknowledged climbing to FL310. At FL310 the controller advised us that we were supposed to be at FL290. We received and acknowledged a clearance to FL290 and began our descent. We mentioned that we had been cleared to and had read back FL310 and then asked if there was a dispute over our altitude. The controller's response was 'no harm, no foul.' we chose to leave it at that and observed that during the event there was no apparent traffic conflict. During our time in this sector, the controller sounded somewhat fatigued. Other than that and the fact that FL310 was wrong way, I don't know what might have caused us to question the clearance. It's not unusual to receive a wrong way flight level temporarily on our way to our final cruising altitude.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZOB CTLR RECOGNIZES WRONG ALT ASSIGNED AS ACR CLBS THROUGH INTENDED ALT.

Narrative: WE WERE AT FL250 AWAITING CLRNC TO OUR FINAL CRUISING ALT OF FL330. WE RECEIVED A CLRNC TO FL310 AND ACKNOWLEDGED SAME. AS WE PASSED THROUGH FL305, THE CTLR INSTRUCTED US TO MAINTAIN FL310. WE ACKNOWLEDGED CLBING TO FL310. AT FL310 THE CTLR ADVISED US THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE AT FL290. WE RECEIVED AND ACKNOWLEDGED A CLRNC TO FL290 AND BEGAN OUR DSCNT. WE MENTIONED THAT WE HAD BEEN CLRED TO AND HAD READ BACK FL310 AND THEN ASKED IF THERE WAS A DISPUTE OVER OUR ALT. THE CTLR'S RESPONSE WAS 'NO HARM, NO FOUL.' WE CHOSE TO LEAVE IT AT THAT AND OBSERVED THAT DURING THE EVENT THERE WAS NO APPARENT TFC CONFLICT. DURING OUR TIME IN THIS SECTOR, THE CTLR SOUNDED SOMEWHAT FATIGUED. OTHER THAN THAT AND THE FACT THAT FL310 WAS WRONG WAY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED US TO QUESTION THE CLRNC. IT'S NOT UNUSUAL TO RECEIVE A WRONG WAY FLT LEVEL TEMPORARILY ON OUR WAY TO OUR FINAL CRUISING ALT.

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.