Air carrier large transport altitude deviation late starting descent then overshot amended clearance...

Attributes
ACN	90211
Time
Date	198807
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ric
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 27000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	90211
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation Operational Deviation

Narrative:

At about 110 NM south of ric we were given a clearance to descend to cross 80 NM south of ric at FL270. We programmed the FMC for the descent. Later, prior to the point selected to start down, we were asked to begin our descent. We left FL410. Later we were asked to expedite through FL350. I read back the request and said words to the effect that I understood we still had the restriction to cross 80 south at FL270. I don't remember a reply to that statement. Next we were given a vector to turn about 40 degrees to our left and then back on course. Sometime later we were advised that there had been a conflict and that our clearance was to maintain FL350. It was a classic misunderstanding. I am sure we were not clrd to descend to and maintain FL350. We may have been told to expedite descent to FL350 instead of what I thought I heard. My first officer agreed with the way I had understood the clrncs. In any event the controller and I each had a different understanding of the clearance issued.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT ALT DEVIATION LATE STARTING DESCENT THEN OVERSHOT AMENDED CLRNC ALT.

Narrative: AT ABOUT 110 NM S OF RIC WE WERE GIVEN A CLRNC TO DSND TO CROSS 80 NM S OF RIC AT FL270. WE PROGRAMMED THE FMC FOR THE DSCNT. LATER, PRIOR TO THE POINT SELECTED TO START DOWN, WE WERE ASKED TO BEGIN OUR DSCNT. WE LEFT FL410. LATER WE WERE ASKED TO EXPEDITE THROUGH FL350. I READ BACK THE REQUEST AND SAID WORDS TO THE EFFECT THAT I UNDERSTOOD WE STILL HAD THE RESTRICTION TO CROSS 80 S AT FL270. I DON'T REMEMBER A REPLY TO THAT STATEMENT. NEXT WE WERE GIVEN A VECTOR TO TURN ABOUT 40 DEGREES TO OUR LEFT AND THEN BACK ON COURSE. SOMETIME LATER WE WERE ADVISED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A CONFLICT AND THAT OUR CLRNC WAS TO MAINTAIN FL350. IT WAS A CLASSIC MISUNDERSTANDING. I AM SURE WE WERE NOT CLRD TO DSND TO AND MAINTAIN FL350. WE MAY HAVE BEEN TOLD TO EXPEDITE DSCNT TO FL350 INSTEAD OF WHAT I THOUGHT I HEARD. MY F/O AGREED WITH THE WAY I HAD UNDERSTOOD THE CLRNCS. IN ANY EVENT THE CTLR AND I EACH HAD A DIFFERENT UNDERSTANDING OF THE CLRNC ISSUED.

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.

Air carrier large transport altitude deviation late starting descent then overshot amended clearance altitude.