Narrative:

On departure at 10000' I understood departure control to say 'maintain present heading to intercept the 296 degree right of dxo and climb to 13000'.' I read back the clearance to 13000' and received no response from departure control. We began climbing and at approximately 10800' departure control called us and said that we were only cleared to 10000' and that 11000' traffic had passed off to our right and behind us. He then cleared us to 13000' and told us to contact ZOB. The first officer was preoccupied with an inoperative primary stabilizer trim and did not hear the initial clearance. If we did misunderstand the clearance to 13000', departure control also failed to pick it up when I read back the clearance to 13000'. This incident emphasized the need for better communication and I know I will work harder on that in the future.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG ALT DEVIATION OVERSHOT IN CLIMB POSSIBLY IN RESPONSE TO A TRAFFIC CALL.

Narrative: ON DEP AT 10000' I UNDERSTOOD DEP CTL TO SAY 'MAINTAIN PRESENT HDG TO INTERCEPT THE 296 DEG R OF DXO AND CLB TO 13000'.' I READ BACK THE CLRNC TO 13000' AND RECEIVED NO RESPONSE FROM DEP CTL. WE BEGAN CLBING AND AT APPROX 10800' DEP CTL CALLED US AND SAID THAT WE WERE ONLY CLRED TO 10000' AND THAT 11000' TFC HAD PASSED OFF TO OUR RIGHT AND BEHIND US. HE THEN CLRED US TO 13000' AND TOLD US TO CONTACT ZOB. THE F/O WAS PREOCCUPIED WITH AN INOP PRIMARY STABILIZER TRIM AND DID NOT HEAR THE INITIAL CLRNC. IF WE DID MISUNDERSTAND THE CLRNC TO 13000', DEP CTL ALSO FAILED TO PICK IT UP WHEN I READ BACK THE CLRNC TO 13000'. THIS INCIDENT EMPHASIZED THE NEED FOR BETTER COM AND I KNOW I WILL WORK HARDER ON THAT IN THE FUTURE.

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.