Aircraft climbed above assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	124382
Time
Date	198910
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : srr
State Reference	NM
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 12500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 114 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 550
ASRS Report	124382
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I accepted IFR clearance from sierra blanca regional tower as follows: 'to albuquerque airport via direct tracc intersection direct corona VOR as filed, maintain 12,000, contact center frequency 132.65 MHZ, squawk.' I was climbing to assigned altitude of 12,000' and attempted several times to contact albuquerque center. I was now at 12,000' with no radio contact with center and was checking the low altitude en route chart for a different frequency to use when I noticed that published routes from corona VOR and roswell VOR and pinon VOR to tracc intersection did not specify a minimum en route altitude. To firmly assure myself of safe altitude I crosschecked approach plate and found the arrival route from corona VOR to captain (cep) NDB required an MEA of 13,000. I continued climb above 12,000' to approximately 12,500 and finally contacted ZAB. Center asked 'were you assigned 12,000''. We must have you at 12,000'. I know MEA in that area is 13,000', however, we have traffic in the MOA ahead and the base of the area is at 12,500'. Finally ZAB gave me a climb to FL180 (my flight plan requested altitude) and the rest of the flight was uneventful.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACFT CLIMBED ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: I ACCEPTED IFR CLRNC FROM SIERRA BLANCA REGIONAL TWR AS FOLLOWS: 'TO ALBUQUERQUE ARPT VIA DIRECT TRACC INTXN DIRECT CORONA VOR AS FILED, MAINTAIN 12,000, CONTACT CENTER FREQ 132.65 MHZ, SQUAWK.' I WAS CLIMBING TO ASSIGNED ALT OF 12,000' AND ATTEMPTED SEVERAL TIMES TO CONTACT ALBUQUERQUE CENTER. I WAS NOW AT 12,000' WITH NO RADIO CONTACT WITH CENTER AND WAS CHECKING THE LOW ALT ENRTE CHART FOR A DIFFERENT FREQ TO USE WHEN I NOTICED THAT PUBLISHED ROUTES FROM CORONA VOR AND ROSWELL VOR AND PINON VOR TO TRACC INTXN DID NOT SPECIFY A MINIMUM ENRTE ALT. TO FIRMLY ASSURE MYSELF OF SAFE ALT I XCHKED APCH PLATE AND FOUND THE ARR ROUTE FROM CORONA VOR TO CAPT (CEP) NDB REQUIRED AN MEA OF 13,000. I CONTINUED CLIMB ABOVE 12,000' TO APPROX 12,500 AND FINALLY CONTACTED ZAB. CENTER ASKED 'WERE YOU ASSIGNED 12,000''. WE MUST HAVE YOU AT 12,000'. I KNOW MEA IN THAT AREA IS 13,000', HOWEVER, WE HAVE TFC IN THE MOA AHEAD AND THE BASE OF THE AREA IS AT 12,500'. FINALLY ZAB GAVE ME A CLIMB TO FL180 (MY FLT PLAN REQUESTED ALT) AND THE REST OF THE FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL.

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.