Narrative:

Descending into mth, I was given a descent to 13000 ft by miami. Shortly thereafter, he again cleared me to 13000 ft. He mumbled his instructions, so I came back with 'ok, verify descent to 13000 ft, one three thousand.' he said 'affirmative.' as I leveled off at 13000 ft, he said to expedite through 11000 ft. I verified altitude and he said 3000 ft. It was not a problem (this time), but this seems to be the 'norm.' controllers are constantly mumbling altitudes and moving on. When you try to clarify, they do not pay attention. They act like they have already said it once and do not need to say it again. I am not old. I am not hard of hearing, and I have good radios. This just happens far too often.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BE9T PLT, ON DSCNT TO MTH, MISINTERPED HIS CLRNC AND DSNDED TO 13000 FT INSTEAD OF 3000 FT, HIS ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: DSNDING INTO MTH, I WAS GIVEN A DSCNT TO 13000 FT BY MIAMI. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, HE AGAIN CLRED ME TO 13000 FT. HE MUMBLED HIS INSTRUCTIONS, SO I CAME BACK WITH 'OK, VERIFY DSCNT TO 13000 FT, ONE THREE THOUSAND.' HE SAID 'AFFIRMATIVE.' AS I LEVELED OFF AT 13000 FT, HE SAID TO EXPEDITE THROUGH 11000 FT. I VERIFIED ALT AND HE SAID 3000 FT. IT WAS NOT A PROB (THIS TIME), BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE THE 'NORM.' CTLRS ARE CONSTANTLY MUMBLING ALTS AND MOVING ON. WHEN YOU TRY TO CLARIFY, THEY DO NOT PAY ATTN. THEY ACT LIKE THEY HAVE ALREADY SAID IT ONCE AND DO NOT NEED TO SAY IT AGAIN. I AM NOT OLD. I AM NOT HARD OF HEARING, AND I HAVE GOOD RADIOS. THIS JUST HAPPENS FAR TOO OFTEN.

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.