F18 pilot, #3 in a flight of 3, had an altitude excursion in ZTL class east.

Attributes
ACN	540874
Time
Date	200203
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mge.airport
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl single value : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc tower : hou.tower
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Hornet (F-18)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Hornet (F-18)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : military
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	controller military : 9 flight time last 90 days : 57.6 flight time total : 1256.7 flight time type : 950
ASRS Report	540874
Person 2
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : published procedure non adherence other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : issued alert none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

Call sign xyz was a flight of 3. At approximately XA00 local on mar/wed/02, our flight was split into 2 elements. I was call sign xyz as a single and assigned FL230 from FL220, on center frequency 254.35. Call sign xyz was cleared to one six thousand, but I heard six thousand and read back 'call sign xyz leaving FL230 for six thousand.' since no discussion was made as to which element would be brought down first, I assumed it was me being given the lower altitude. In my descent, I was switched to center frequency on 290.8. There was some confusion on my part why center would assign me to six thousand, so I briefly leveled off reaching one six thousand and checked in on 290.8. I responded, 'call sign xyz passing one six thousand for six thousand.' center replied with 'roger,' so I continued my descent to six thousand. As I was passing 7500 ft, center asked what my altitude was. I responded passing 7500 ft for 6 thousand. He said my assigned altitude was one six thousand. I told him when I checked in on his frequency: 'call sign xyz was passing one six thousand for six thousand' and he rogered me. He said that was incorrect and would verify. He then coordinated a handoff with a final controller for my approach.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: F18 PLT, #3 IN A FLT OF 3, HAD AN ALT EXCURSION IN ZTL CLASS E.

Narrative: CALL SIGN XYZ WAS A FLT OF 3. AT APPROX XA00 LCL ON MAR/WED/02, OUR FLT WAS SPLIT INTO 2 ELEMENTS. I WAS CALL SIGN XYZ AS A SINGLE AND ASSIGNED FL230 FROM FL220, ON CTR FREQ 254.35. CALL SIGN XYZ WAS CLRED TO ONE SIX THOUSAND, BUT I HEARD SIX THOUSAND AND READ BACK 'CALL SIGN XYZ LEAVING FL230 FOR SIX THOUSAND.' SINCE NO DISCUSSION WAS MADE AS TO WHICH ELEMENT WOULD BE BROUGHT DOWN FIRST, I ASSUMED IT WAS ME BEING GIVEN THE LOWER ALT. IN MY DSCNT, I WAS SWITCHED TO CTR FREQ ON 290.8. THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION ON MY PART WHY CTR WOULD ASSIGN ME TO SIX THOUSAND, SO I BRIEFLY LEVELED OFF REACHING ONE SIX THOUSAND AND CHKED IN ON 290.8. I RESPONDED, 'CALL SIGN XYZ PASSING ONE SIX THOUSAND FOR SIX THOUSAND.' CTR REPLIED WITH 'ROGER,' SO I CONTINUED MY DSCNT TO SIX THOUSAND. AS I WAS PASSING 7500 FT, CTR ASKED WHAT MY ALT WAS. I RESPONDED PASSING 7500 FT FOR 6 THOUSAND. HE SAID MY ASSIGNED ALT WAS ONE SIX THOUSAND. I TOLD HIM WHEN I CHKED IN ON HIS FREQ: 'CALL SIGN XYZ WAS PASSING ONE SIX THOUSAND FOR SIX THOUSAND' AND HE ROGERED ME. HE SAID THAT WAS INCORRECT AND WOULD VERIFY. HE THEN COORDINATED A HDOF WITH A FINAL CTLR FOR MY APCH.

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.