Corp jet misinterp expect clearance and descended below assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	87047
Time
Date	198805
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : rno
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 24000 msl bound upper : 28000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zoa
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	87047
Person 2
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Flight was cleared to FL280 (descending) and given a heading. When reaching 28700' flight was told that upon reaching FL240 it would be cleared direct to destination instead of holding assigned heading. A frequency change was also given at this time. Flight acknowledged; roger 240, and changed frequency. New frequency was busy and when we were finally able to talk to controller we were nearly at FL240. New controller said we were only cleared to FL280. Upon re-contacting previous controller, he said he had only meant to tell us that upon reaching FL240 we would be cleared direct to destination, for planning purposes only. However, the crew understood that to be a clearance to FL240.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CORP JET MISINTERP EXPECT CLRNC AND DESCENDED BELOW ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: FLT WAS CLRED TO FL280 (DESCENDING) AND GIVEN A HEADING. WHEN REACHING 28700' FLT WAS TOLD THAT UPON REACHING FL240 IT WOULD BE CLRED DIRECT TO DEST INSTEAD OF HOLDING ASSIGNED HEADING. A FREQ CHANGE WAS ALSO GIVEN AT THIS TIME. FLT ACKNOWLEDGED; ROGER 240, AND CHANGED FREQ. NEW FREQ WAS BUSY AND WHEN WE WERE FINALLY ABLE TO TALK TO CTLR WE WERE NEARLY AT FL240. NEW CTLR SAID WE WERE ONLY CLRED TO FL280. UPON RE-CONTACTING PREVIOUS CTLR, HE SAID HE HAD ONLY MEANT TO TELL US THAT UPON REACHING FL240 WE WOULD BE CLRED DIRECT TO DEST, FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY. HOWEVER, THE CREW UNDERSTOOD THAT TO BE A CLRNC TO FL240.

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.