Narrative:

We were cleared in descent from 18000 to 11000', and cleared to avoid severe WX over and around cvg. I began the descent and turned right to approximately 120 degrees to avoid a build-up at approximately 100 degrees. There seemed to be a break between 2 cum's that we could get through; however, the closer we got, the more and faster it was building up right in front of us. I punched the autoplt off, began a harder right turn, and began to level at 14500', but then I realized the storm was going to build right into us--so I climbed right then to approximately 12200', then turned left again to descend over the storm and back down the back side to 11000', which was our assigned altitude. As I reached 12200' the controller called and said he noticed our climb and would we be careful and not go any higher. We acknowledged, said we were avoiding the build-up, and were now back in descent to 11000'. There was no further conversation between ATC and us, but I'm writing because of the question and concern in his voice, but also a question of mine! We were cleared from 18000 to 11000' with no time or DME restrictions, and WX avoidance at our discretion. I realize I had passed 12000' once on the way down, but then climbed to 12200' to avoid WX. My questions is, isn't that my airspace anyway? What if I had just been much slower in my descent? Was the controller just concerned because he saw a climb after what he thought was a completed descent?

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR HVT ALT DEVIATION, NON ADHERENCE TO CLRNC. DURING DESCENT FLT CREW STARTED TO CLIMB TO FACILITATE WX AVOIDANCE.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED IN DSCNT FROM 18000 TO 11000', AND CLRED TO AVOID SEVERE WX OVER AND AROUND CVG. I BEGAN THE DSCNT AND TURNED RIGHT TO APPROX 120 DEGS TO AVOID A BUILD-UP AT APPROX 100 DEGS. THERE SEEMED TO BE A BREAK BTWN 2 CUM'S THAT WE COULD GET THROUGH; HOWEVER, THE CLOSER WE GOT, THE MORE AND FASTER IT WAS BUILDING UP RIGHT IN FRONT OF US. I PUNCHED THE AUTOPLT OFF, BEGAN A HARDER RIGHT TURN, AND BEGAN TO LEVEL AT 14500', BUT THEN I REALIZED THE STORM WAS GOING TO BUILD RIGHT INTO US--SO I CLBED RIGHT THEN TO APPROX 12200', THEN TURNED LEFT AGAIN TO DSND OVER THE STORM AND BACK DOWN THE BACK SIDE TO 11000', WHICH WAS OUR ASSIGNED ALT. AS I REACHED 12200' THE CTLR CALLED AND SAID HE NOTICED OUR CLB AND WOULD WE BE CAREFUL AND NOT GO ANY HIGHER. WE ACKNOWLEDGED, SAID WE WERE AVOIDING THE BUILD-UP, AND WERE NOW BACK IN DSCNT TO 11000'. THERE WAS NO FURTHER CONVERSATION BTWN ATC AND US, BUT I'M WRITING BECAUSE OF THE QUESTION AND CONCERN IN HIS VOICE, BUT ALSO A QUESTION OF MINE! WE WERE CLRED FROM 18000 TO 11000' WITH NO TIME OR DME RESTRICTIONS, AND WX AVOIDANCE AT OUR DISCRETION. I REALIZE I HAD PASSED 12000' ONCE ON THE WAY DOWN, BUT THEN CLBED TO 12200' TO AVOID WX. MY QUESTIONS IS, ISN'T THAT MY AIRSPACE ANYWAY? WHAT IF I HAD JUST BEEN MUCH SLOWER IN MY DSCNT? WAS THE CTLR JUST CONCERNED BECAUSE HE SAW A CLB AFTER WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS A COMPLETED DSCNT?

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.