GA small aircraft altitude deviation overshot during climb.

Attributes
ACN	123217
Time
Date	198909
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : tyr
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zfw
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 275 flight time total : 3000
ASRS Report	123217
Person 2
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 275 flight time total : 3000
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

In cruise flight between tyler VOR (proceeding direct to) texarkana VOR's, level at 9000' on IFR flight plan in VMC conditions, requested 11,000' in order to get on top of haze layer and associated light turbulence. Received clearance to climb and maintain 11,000'. Read back 'climb and maintain 11,000'.' center did not dispute this or make any comment at all. After leveling at 11,000 and being there for around 3-5 mins, center gave vector for traffic of 090 degree. Center says 'you were only cleared to 10,000'.' I said I received clearance to and read back 11,000'. Center disputed this and said 'you read back 10,000'. The main point would seem to be a 'mental set' on the part of the controller to hear what he wanted and to not clarify if there was a misunderstanding, or not to listen to the readback. I never at any time felt that I was limited to 10,000'. Also, if the altitude cleared to is different, the controller should emphasize that verbally and also to further enforce the difference he should give a reason, ie, maintain 10,000 for traffic.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA ALT DEVIATION OVERSHOT DURING CLIMB.

Narrative: IN CRUISE FLT BETWEEN TYLER VOR (PROCEEDING DIRECT TO) TEXARKANA VOR'S, LEVEL AT 9000' ON IFR FLT PLAN IN VMC CONDITIONS, REQUESTED 11,000' IN ORDER TO GET ON TOP OF HAZE LAYER AND ASSOCIATED LIGHT TURBULENCE. RECEIVED CLRNC TO CLIMB AND MAINTAIN 11,000'. READ BACK 'CLIMB AND MAINTAIN 11,000'.' CENTER DID NOT DISPUTE THIS OR MAKE ANY COMMENT AT ALL. AFTER LEVELING AT 11,000 AND BEING THERE FOR AROUND 3-5 MINS, CENTER GAVE VECTOR FOR TFC OF 090 DEG. CENTER SAYS 'YOU WERE ONLY CLRED TO 10,000'.' I SAID I RECEIVED CLRNC TO AND READ BACK 11,000'. CENTER DISPUTED THIS AND SAID 'YOU READ BACK 10,000'. THE MAIN POINT WOULD SEEM TO BE A 'MENTAL SET' ON THE PART OF THE CTLR TO HEAR WHAT HE WANTED AND TO NOT CLARIFY IF THERE WAS A MISUNDERSTANDING, OR NOT TO LISTEN TO THE READBACK. I NEVER AT ANY TIME FELT THAT I WAS LIMITED TO 10,000'. ALSO, IF THE ALT CLRED TO IS DIFFERENT, THE CTLR SHOULD EMPHASIZE THAT VERBALLY AND ALSO TO FURTHER ENFORCE THE DIFFERENCE HE SHOULD GIVE A REASON, IE, MAINTAIN 10,000 FOR TFC.

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.