ATC ISSUED DSCNT TO ACR; THEN REVISED CLRNC TO LEVEL OFF FOR TFC. FLC DID NOT RECEIVE CLRNC AND DSNDED TO OCCUPIED ALT. LTSS.

Narrative

KIAK-KDEN APCH DEN; INITIAL DSCNT CLRNC WAS GIVEN AND ACKNOWLEDGED TO FL240 (FROM FL350). AS THIS HAPPENED A LOT EARLIER THEN NORMAL (180 MI FROM DEN); I QUESTIONED 'AT PLTS DISCRETION?'. ARTCC RESPONDED 'NO NOW!' 'ROGER LEAVING FL350'. AS WE PASSED FL260; ARTCC RPTED TFC 'SMT; 12 O'CLOCK 5 MI; FL250; SEBOUND'; IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY 'ALT EXCURSION; TURN R HDG 360 DEGS IMMEDIATELY; MAINTAIN FL260.' WHEN WE RECEIVED THE TFC RPT; THE CAPT; REALIZING A CONFLICT; SPDILY ARRESTED THE DSCNT 'FL253' AND CLBED; WE SPOTTED AND RPTED IN-SIGHT THE SMT AT 1 O'CLOCK; +\- 4 MI AND DECIDED NOT TO TURN R TO AVOID HIS FLT PATH. WHEN CLR OF TFC; WE WERE RECLRED DIRECT TO 10C-VOR AND MAINTAIN FL240; AND WERE ASKED TO MAKE PHONE CONTACT WITH DEN-ARTCC ON ARR AT KDEN; WHICH THE CAPT DID. HE SPOKE WITH MR. XX; SHIFT SUPVR; WHO CLAIMED THAT IN OUR DSCNT WE WERE RECLRED TO FL260; SOMETHING WE NEVER HEARD AND THEREFORE NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED OR COMPLIED WITH. BOTH MR. XX AND; LATER; SYS CTL SHIFT SUPVR MR. Y (PER FAA REQUEST) ASKED TO HAVE THE CVR TAPES REMOVED; BUT ON THE CAPT'S STATEMENT THAT THE 30 MIN TAPE BY THEN HAD BEEN AUTOMATICALLY ERASED; THE REQUEST WAS WITHDRAWN. CAPT FURTHER RELAYED TO HIS FLC; AFTER A SECOND CONVERSATION WITH MR. XX; THAT ARTCC ASSUMED AN OPERROR ON THEIR PART. I URGE THE EXPEDITIOUS COMPLETION OF TCASII INSTALLATION AND ACTIVATION IN ALL OUR WDB!