Medium Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Procedure; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
We were assigned a descent to 10;000 FT. The First Officer dialed 10;000 FT in the altitude selector; and I verified the altitude while is finger was on the knob. I then read back the clearance to 10;000 FT to ATC. While descending through approximately 13;000 FT; ATC asked us to verify we were cleared to 14;500 FT. I said we were assigned 10;000. He issued a low altitude alert and instructed an immediate climb to 14;500 FT. The First Officer disengaged the autopilot and climbed to 14;500. We then re-engaged the autopilot and continued the descent and approach without incident. The GPWS never detected anything; and neither of us saw any amber terrain on the map; so I don't believe we were close to impacting any terrain. I have no way of knowing why the incorrect altitude was assigned. We knew we were still over somewhat mountainous terrain; so we could have asked him to verify that was a safe altitude.
An Air Carrier crew over mountainous terrain understood they were cleared to 10;000 FT; but while descending through 13;000 FT; ATC commanded a LOW ALTITUDE ALERT with an immediate climb to 14;500 FT. No EGPWS warning alerted.