Corp mdt read back wrong altitude. Controller did not correct wrong readback.

Attributes
ACN	99585
Time
Date	198812
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hou
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zhu
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Medium Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 10500 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	99585
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Received clearance from ZHU on 134.5 to cross marit intersection at 12000'. I wrote clearance on my notepad and read back restriction to cross marit at 12000'. (Marit is an intersection on the struck 6 arrival for hou hobby.) ZHU made no comment on my readback. We were then turned over to hou approach on 124.35. I checked in, advising we were at 12000' and had current ATIS. He questioned our assigned altitude and I replied that our assignment was 12000' at marit as received, copied and read back to ZHU. He said we should be at 10000' and he would check with ZHU for verification. He then came back on frequency and said that ZHU said they had assigned us 10000'. We (both pilots) agreed we had been assigned 12000'. I had copied the assigned altitude on my notepad and then read back the assigned altitude as 12000'. ZHU made no comment or attempt to correct, if indeed we had misunderstood the clearance. There was no traffic conflict or alert. Hou approach said, 'there's no problem.' recommendation: listen to all readbacks. This applies to all of us--pilots, controllers, everybody. Do not hesitate to ask for verification of any heading, altitude, airspeed, etc.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CORP MDT READ BACK WRONG ALT. CTLR DID NOT CORRECT WRONG READBACK.

Narrative: RECEIVED CLRNC FROM ZHU ON 134.5 TO CROSS MARIT INTXN AT 12000'. I WROTE CLRNC ON MY NOTEPAD AND READ BACK RESTRICTION TO CROSS MARIT AT 12000'. (MARIT IS AN INTXN ON THE STRUCK 6 ARR FOR HOU HOBBY.) ZHU MADE NO COMMENT ON MY READBACK. WE WERE THEN TURNED OVER TO HOU APCH ON 124.35. I CHKED IN, ADVISING WE WERE AT 12000' AND HAD CURRENT ATIS. HE QUESTIONED OUR ASSIGNED ALT AND I REPLIED THAT OUR ASSIGNMENT WAS 12000' AT MARIT AS RECEIVED, COPIED AND READ BACK TO ZHU. HE SAID WE SHOULD BE AT 10000' AND HE WOULD CHK WITH ZHU FOR VERIFICATION. HE THEN CAME BACK ON FREQ AND SAID THAT ZHU SAID THEY HAD ASSIGNED US 10000'. WE (BOTH PLTS) AGREED WE HAD BEEN ASSIGNED 12000'. I HAD COPIED THE ASSIGNED ALT ON MY NOTEPAD AND THEN READ BACK THE ASSIGNED ALT AS 12000'. ZHU MADE NO COMMENT OR ATTEMPT TO CORRECT, IF INDEED WE HAD MISUNDERSTOOD THE CLRNC. THERE WAS NO TFC CONFLICT OR ALERT. HOU APCH SAID, 'THERE'S NO PROB.' RECOMMENDATION: LISTEN TO ALL READBACKS. THIS APPLIES TO ALL OF US--PLTS, CTLRS, EVERYBODY. DO NOT HESITATE TO ASK FOR VERIFICATION OF ANY HDG, ALT, AIRSPD, ETC.

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.