Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Procedure; Incorrect / Not Installed / Unavailable Part; Human Factors
Cleared for LaGuardia 5 Departure and flew initial heading 040 till 2.5NM then heading 180 and cleared to climb via; initially climbing to 5;000. Departure controller then assigned us to climb to 8;000 and turn to heading 020. Next the Departure controller told us proceed direct to JFK and climb to 16;000. LGA 5 Whitestone climb was not available in the FMS to load. Pilot not Flying (PNF) was assigned 16;000; he read back 16;000. Pilot Flying confirmed 16;000. After passing 12;600 a different controller notified us the assignment was 12;000ft. PNF stated the prior controller issued 16;000 to ATC and inquired if the error was ours or theirs. The controller didn't answer the question he said it wasn't a problem and could do 16;000ft. We read back selected and confirmed this. We climbed as instructed; seemed like a controller mismatch on controller handoffs. We immediately leveled and responded when asked.
Captain reported receiving different altitude assignments from ATC after a frequency change.