Narrative:

Were issued a descent to FL240 before reaching FL240, were issued a clearance to 17000' which we repeated back to center. Passing through approximately 23800' with a high rate of descent 2000 FPM to get through WX, we were told to turn and maintain FL240. We stopped descent at 23100' and climbed back to FL240. We questioned center about clearance to 17000' and he responded we were not cleared to that altitude but we had repeated the clearance to 17000' to center when it was issued west/O any response from center. No conflict was made known to us. The only comment from center was 'are you climbing back to FL240?' we were handed off to the next sector west/O further comment from center. Supplemental information from acn 93598: there was another aircraft with call sign similar to ours and we were in severe WX conditions navigation with radar and instrument.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT MISUNDERSTOOD CLRNC AND DESCENDED BELOW ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: WERE ISSUED A DSCNT TO FL240 BEFORE REACHING FL240, WERE ISSUED A CLRNC TO 17000' WHICH WE REPEATED BACK TO CENTER. PASSING THROUGH APPROX 23800' WITH A HIGH RATE OF DSCNT 2000 FPM TO GET THROUGH WX, WE WERE TOLD TO TURN AND MAINTAIN FL240. WE STOPPED DSCNT AT 23100' AND CLBED BACK TO FL240. WE QUESTIONED CENTER ABOUT CLRNC TO 17000' AND HE RESPONDED WE WERE NOT CLRED TO THAT ALT BUT WE HAD REPEATED THE CLRNC TO 17000' TO CENTER WHEN IT WAS ISSUED W/O ANY RESPONSE FROM CENTER. NO CONFLICT WAS MADE KNOWN TO US. THE ONLY COMMENT FROM CENTER WAS 'ARE YOU CLBING BACK TO FL240?' WE WERE HANDED OFF TO THE NEXT SECTOR W/O FURTHER COMMENT FROM CENTER. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 93598: THERE WAS ANOTHER ACFT WITH CALL SIGN SIMILAR TO OURS AND WE WERE IN SEVERE WX CONDITIONS NAVIGATION WITH RADAR AND INSTRUMENT.

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.