Cleared to 14000', then to 12000' at 250 KTS. Descended to 12000'.

Attributes
ACN	88706
Time
Date	198806
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other enroute airway : ztl
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 225 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 225
ASRS Report	88706
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 850
ASRS Report	88697
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Atl center cleared us to 14000'. After my first officer read back the clearance, atl center reclred us to cross the 30 DME fix on the atl 228 degree right at 12000' and 250 KTS. My first officer questioned the clearance to 12000' and it was repeated by ATC and then read back by my first officer. We were leveling at 12000' when ATC questioned what our altitude was. When we replied that we were leveling at 12000', he said that we had only be cleared to 14000'. We then stated that we had been cleared to cross the atl 228 degree right at 12000' and 250 KTS, which the controller denied. He also said that there was no problem! I think this is a big problem. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: captain indicates no follow up on his part or FAA. Wonders why it is 'no problem' for ATC, but is a problem for him.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLEARED TO 14000', THEN TO 12000' AT 250 KTS. DESCENDED TO 12000'.

Narrative: ATL CENTER CLRED US TO 14000'. AFTER MY F/O READ BACK THE CLRNC, ATL CENTER RECLRED US TO CROSS THE 30 DME FIX ON THE ATL 228 DEG R AT 12000' AND 250 KTS. MY F/O QUESTIONED THE CLRNC TO 12000' AND IT WAS REPEATED BY ATC AND THEN READ BACK BY MY F/O. WE WERE LEVELING AT 12000' WHEN ATC QUESTIONED WHAT OUR ALT WAS. WHEN WE REPLIED THAT WE WERE LEVELING AT 12000', HE SAID THAT WE HAD ONLY BE CLRED TO 14000'. WE THEN STATED THAT WE HAD BEEN CLRED TO CROSS THE ATL 228 DEG R AT 12000' AND 250 KTS, WHICH THE CTLR DENIED. HE ALSO SAID THAT THERE WAS NO PROB! I THINK THIS IS A BIG PROB. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: CAPT INDICATES NO FOLLOW UP ON HIS PART OR FAA. WONDERS WHY IT IS 'NO PROB' FOR ATC, BUT IS A PROB FOR HIM.

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.