Narrative:

At XA20Z, 5/thu/88, flight atl-bwi, talking to washington center on 133.72. We were given a clearance to cross 85 mi south of richmond at FL290. I did not understand the correct mileage from richmond. I said, 'understand FL290 at 65 or 85 mi this side of richmond.' ATC said, 'FL250 at 85 mi south richmond.' I said, 'FL250 85 mi from richmond.' at this time I changed the altitude window from FL290 to FL250. At an altitude of FL270 we were advised to climb back to FL290. Also given a heading of about 340 degrees until out of FL280 and then back on course. We were at FL280 and climbing so continued on course. We then were advised of an altitude violation report that would be reported on flight and we could obtain further information by calling the ARTCC. Remainder of flight normal. Once on the ground, I called the watch supervisor at the time of the incident. He said that after reviewing the washington center tapes, we were correct--the controller had in fact issued our flight a clearance to cross 85 DME southwest of richmond at FL250. Supervisor also said that he let the involved controller listen to the playback of the tapes and he (the controller) was quite surprised at the clearance he issued. There was no less than standard separation of aircraft, so the incident was considered terminated.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HVT FLT CREW DIDN'T UNDERSTAND ALT AND DISTANCE ON CROSSING RESTRICTION. DURING REPEAT CTLR INADVERTENTLY GAVE WRONG ALT, BUT CAUGHT DEVIATION BEFORE LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARTION OCCURRED.

Narrative: AT XA20Z, 5/THU/88, FLT ATL-BWI, TALKING TO WASHINGTON CENTER ON 133.72. WE WERE GIVEN A CLRNC TO CROSS 85 MI S OF RICHMOND AT FL290. I DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE CORRECT MILEAGE FROM RICHMOND. I SAID, 'UNDERSTAND FL290 AT 65 OR 85 MI THIS SIDE OF RICHMOND.' ATC SAID, 'FL250 AT 85 MI S RICHMOND.' I SAID, 'FL250 85 MI FROM RICHMOND.' AT THIS TIME I CHANGED THE ALT WINDOW FROM FL290 TO FL250. AT AN ALT OF FL270 WE WERE ADVISED TO CLB BACK TO FL290. ALSO GIVEN A HDG OF ABOUT 340 DEGS UNTIL OUT OF FL280 AND THEN BACK ON COURSE. WE WERE AT FL280 AND CLBING SO CONTINUED ON COURSE. WE THEN WERE ADVISED OF AN ALT VIOLATION RPT THAT WOULD BE RPTED ON FLT AND WE COULD OBTAIN FURTHER INFO BY CALLING THE ARTCC. REMAINDER OF FLT NORMAL. ONCE ON THE GND, I CALLED THE WATCH SUPVR AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. HE SAID THAT AFTER REVIEWING THE WASHINGTON CENTER TAPES, WE WERE CORRECT--THE CTLR HAD IN FACT ISSUED OUR FLT A CLRNC TO CROSS 85 DME SW OF RICHMOND AT FL250. SUPVR ALSO SAID THAT HE LET THE INVOLVED CTLR LISTEN TO THE PLAYBACK OF THE TAPES AND HE (THE CTLR) WAS QUITE SURPRISED AT THE CLRNC HE ISSUED. THERE WAS NO LTSS OF ACFT, SO THE INCIDENT WAS CONSIDERED TERMINATED.

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.