B737 flight crew accept mmex amended clearance and exceed clearance limit caused by miscom.

Attributes
ACN	524111
Time
Date	200108
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mmex.artcc
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl single value : 16000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Weather Elements	Rain Thunderstorm
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : mmex.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : lumas 1
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 230 flight time total : 9500 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	524111
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 2000 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	524112
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : exit inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance Weather Environmental Factor
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Cleared by mexico center to descend to 14000 ft positive control area VOR, lumas one arrival, runway 23R. Amended clearance 'air carrier X maintain 16000 ft, positive control area traffic.' we understood, stop at 16000 ft due to traffic, but still proceeded with the arrival. After passing positive control area, mex center 'air carrier X where you going? Right turn pacuka maintain at 16000 ft.' captain replies, 'mex center do you want hold at positive control area?' mex center, 'yes, air carrier X hold positive control area.' language barrier -- non standard use of ATC phraseology.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 FLC ACCEPT MMEX AMENDED CLRNC AND EXCEED CLRNC LIMIT CAUSED BY MISCOM.

Narrative: CLRED BY MEXICO CTR TO DSND TO 14000 FT PCA VOR, LUMAS ONE ARR, RWY 23R. AMENDED CLRNC 'ACR X MAINTAIN 16000 FT, PCA TFC.' WE UNDERSTOOD, STOP AT 16000 FT DUE TO TFC, BUT STILL PROCEEDED WITH THE ARR. AFTER PASSING PCA, MEX CTR 'ACR X WHERE YOU GOING? R TURN PACUKA MAINTAIN AT 16000 FT.' CAPT REPLIES, 'MEX CTR DO YOU WANT HOLD AT PCA?' MEX CTR, 'YES, ACR X HOLD PCA.' LANGUAGE BARRIER -- NON STANDARD USE OF ATC PHRASEOLOGY.

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.