Narrative:

We were cleared to FL350 by clearance delivery. Departure control also reclred to FL350. En route frequency asked if we could be at 310 by a certain fix. Our omega showed the fix to be 148 NM away from our position so I replied that we could. I assumed that he wanted us at or above FL310 by that time. At FL335 he said, 'I told you to cross the fix at FL310.' we descended to FL310 and then found out that was our final altitude. We never heard the reclrnc.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT OVERSHOT ALT ON CLIMB DUE TO CTLR PHRASEOLOGY.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED TO FL350 BY CLRNC DELIVERY. DEP CTL ALSO RECLRED TO FL350. ENRTE FREQ ASKED IF WE COULD BE AT 310 BY A CERTAIN FIX. OUR OMEGA SHOWED THE FIX TO BE 148 NM AWAY FROM OUR POSITION SO I REPLIED THAT WE COULD. I ASSUMED THAT HE WANTED US AT OR ABOVE FL310 BY THAT TIME. AT FL335 HE SAID, 'I TOLD YOU TO CROSS THE FIX AT FL310.' WE DESCENDED TO FL310 AND THEN FOUND OUT THAT WAS OUR FINAL ALT. WE NEVER HEARD THE RECLRNC.

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.