Air carrier large transport descended below MEA enroute to las.

Attributes
ACN	81291
Time
Date	198802
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : las
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 14000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	arrival star : star enroute airway : j110
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time total : 8500
ASRS Report	81291
Person 2
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

Descending into las on J110 we were clrd by lax center to des from 17000' to cross ashby intersection at 15000'. Then told to contact approach control. After radar identify, approach clrd us to 8000'. We were about 43 mi west of las VOR. Crew discussed close proximity of high terrain. Passing 13300' approach asked us to confirm our altitude. We replied 13300'. His reply was, 'didn't I give you 14000'?' we said, 'no, 8000.' then told to maintain 13000'. Rest of des normal.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT DESCENDED BELOW MEA ENROUTE TO LAS.

Narrative: DSNDING INTO LAS ON J110 WE WERE CLRD BY LAX CENTER TO DES FROM 17000' TO CROSS ASHBY INTXN AT 15000'. THEN TOLD TO CONTACT APCH CTL. AFTER RADAR IDENT, APCH CLRD US TO 8000'. WE WERE ABOUT 43 MI W OF LAS VOR. CREW DISCUSSED CLOSE PROX OF HIGH TERRAIN. PASSING 13300' APCH ASKED US TO CONFIRM OUR ALT. WE REPLIED 13300'. HIS REPLY WAS, 'DIDN'T I GIVE YOU 14000'?' WE SAID, 'NO, 8000.' THEN TOLD TO MAINTAIN 13000'. REST OF DES NORMAL.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.