A T-45 instructor with a flight of four became distracted after departure and overshot his assigned ...

Narrative:

I was an instructor in training leading a 4 plane division of T-45C's that was departing on stereo route. Initial clearance was to 7;000 feet; amended on departure to maintain 4;000 feet. Flight was joining at 4;000 feet as clouds approached. Weather prior to flight reported few/scattered clouds between 3-5;000 feet. [Military] training instructions require these training formations to maintain VMC; so I as the instructor lead in training was attempting to maneuver to maintain VMC and get the 4 aircraft joined into the formation. I requested higher to allow this to happen and was told to maintain 4;000 feet. I had mistakenly assumed I would be granted the higher and was trying to maintain VMC; but I had exceeded the assigned altitude. During this time; the flight was switched from departure to approach. Approach pointed out altitude deviation and I immediately returned the flight to 4;000 feet. Approach gave a phone number for the flight to call on landing. I called the number on landing and discussed the need to maintain assigned altitudes and to comply with clearances. The person I spoke with was very helpful and courteous. I left a return phone number for any further questions on the incident.I completely understand the need to maintain the assigned altitude and my responsibility in this flight. I allowed myself to be overwhelmed during this phase of flight and failed to maintain the proper altitude. I should have requested to level off below the clouds to join the flight or cancelled IFR and maintained VFR; clear of the clouds. I did not receive any specific traffic calls but was advised that other traffic was in the area at 5;000 feet. This leads me to believe that separation was not lost with any other aircraft. I highly regret that I allowed this to happen and am embarrassed as a professional aviator. I failed myself on this instructional flight and will be repeating the training to prevent this from happening again in the future.in the area around base; we have quite a bit of military flight training. I got too comfortable in this environment and assumed I would be cleared as requested - not so. I will have a frank discussion about this event with the other instructor pilots here at the station to prevent future incidents of this nature.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A T-45 Instructor with a flight of four became distracted after departure and overshot his assigned altitude of 4000 feet while trying to join formation and remain VMC. ATC requested descent to assigned altitude.

Narrative: I was an Instructor in training leading a 4 plane division of T-45C's that was departing on stereo route. Initial clearance was to 7;000 feet; amended on departure to maintain 4;000 feet. Flight was joining at 4;000 feet as clouds approached. Weather prior to flight reported few/scattered clouds between 3-5;000 feet. [Military] Training instructions require these training formations to maintain VMC; so I as the instructor lead in training was attempting to maneuver to maintain VMC and get the 4 aircraft joined into the formation. I requested higher to allow this to happen and was told to maintain 4;000 feet. I had mistakenly assumed I would be granted the higher and was trying to maintain VMC; but I had exceeded the assigned altitude. During this time; the flight was switched from departure to Approach. APCH pointed out altitude deviation and I immediately returned the flight to 4;000 feet. APCH gave a phone number for the flight to call on landing. I called the number on landing and discussed the need to maintain assigned altitudes and to comply with clearances. The person I spoke with was very helpful and courteous. I left a return phone number for any further questions on the incident.I completely understand the need to maintain the assigned altitude and my responsibility in this flight. I allowed myself to be overwhelmed during this phase of flight and failed to maintain the proper altitude. I should have requested to level off below the clouds to join the flight or cancelled IFR and maintained VFR; clear of the clouds. I did not receive any specific traffic calls but was advised that other traffic was in the area at 5;000 feet. This leads me to believe that separation was not lost with any other aircraft. I highly regret that I allowed this to happen and am embarrassed as a professional aviator. I failed myself on this instructional flight and will be repeating the training to prevent this from happening again in the future.In the area around base; we have quite a bit of military flight training. I got too comfortable in this environment and assumed I would be cleared as requested - not so. I will have a frank discussion about this event with the other instructor pilots here at the station to prevent future incidents of this nature.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

Attributes
ACN	1284991
Time
Date	201508
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	T45 (or T2C) Goshawk
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Instructor Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 61 Flight Crew Total 3200 Flight Crew Type 163
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Procedural Clearance

A T-45 instructor with a flight of four became distracted after departure and overshot his assigned altitude of 4000 feet while trying to join formation and remain VMC. ATC requested descent to assigned altitude.