Narrative:

The ATC official; acting as an interpreter for the local ATC supervisor; asked me why we were at 3800 meters when we were cleared to 4800 meters on arrival. He said that we had a conflict with an airbus 320. I could not recall any indication from ATC during the arrival that we were at the wrong altitude. I told him that we must have thought we were cleared to 3800 meters (12467 ft) if we descended to 3800 meters. He said he listened to the tape and that we read back 4800 meters (15467 ft). I am at a loss to provide more details because I don't have them; and I am genuinely puzzled by the issues raised by the chinese. To the best of my knowledge; we complied with all ATC instructions throughout the flight. If we grant that an altitude deviation occurred then I believe that fatigue due to circadian rhythm shifts may be a factor as I am; at this time unable to recollect the issue that the chinese raise. The meeting was entirely congenial and friendly.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757 FO RPTS ALT ASSIGNMENT MISUNDERSTANDING WITH CHINESE ATC.

Narrative: THE ATC OFFICIAL; ACTING AS AN INTERPRETER FOR THE LCL ATC SUPVR; ASKED ME WHY WE WERE AT 3800 METERS WHEN WE WERE CLRED TO 4800 METERS ON ARR. HE SAID THAT WE HAD A CONFLICT WITH AN AIRBUS 320. I COULD NOT RECALL ANY INDICATION FROM ATC DURING THE ARR THAT WE WERE AT THE WRONG ALT. I TOLD HIM THAT WE MUST HAVE THOUGHT WE WERE CLRED TO 3800 METERS (12467 FT) IF WE DSNDED TO 3800 METERS. HE SAID HE LISTENED TO THE TAPE AND THAT WE READ BACK 4800 METERS (15467 FT). I AM AT A LOSS TO PROVIDE MORE DETAILS BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THEM; AND I AM GENUINELY PUZZLED BY THE ISSUES RAISED BY THE CHINESE. TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE; WE COMPLIED WITH ALL ATC INSTRUCTIONS THROUGHOUT THE FLT. IF WE GRANT THAT AN ALTDEV OCCURRED THEN I BELIEVE THAT FATIGUE DUE TO CIRCADIAN RHYTHM SHIFTS MAY BE A FACTOR AS I AM; AT THIS TIME UNABLE TO RECOLLECT THE ISSUE THAT THE CHINESE RAISE. THE MEETING WAS ENTIRELY CONGENIAL AND FRIENDLY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.