Narrative:

I was captain flight clt-tri. After departure, and contacting clt departure, we were given various climb instructions by the controller. Upon being handed over to atl center we were questioned as to our altitude of 17000' that we were cruising at. We briefly explained that we were given this altitude by clt departure. We had 17000' in our altitude alerter and both pilots believe we read back 17000' in our reply to clt departure control. The crew had no idea of any problem until notified by our company 3 days later that FAA had brought to their attention we were at 17000' and only cleared to 12000'. Callback conversation with reporter revealed following information. Reporter states crew wondered if there was a problem after being questioned about altitude, but were given no specific indication. Were quite surprised to hear from chief pilot that FAA was inquiring. After discussion with FSDO representative (by chief pilot), it was indicated that no further action would be taken. Reporter chose not to request tapes as he did not wish to 'rock the boat.' states that a similar incident occurred about 2 weeks later in the charlotte area. He is very concerned about so many changes from the SID, changes in altitude, headings soon after departure. Wishes departure would use a straightforward departure procedure.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG FLT CREW CLIMBS TO ASSIGNED ALT. ON HANDOFF QUESTIONED BY CENTER AS TO ALT.

Narrative: I WAS CAPT FLT CLT-TRI. AFTER DEP, AND CONTACTING CLT DEP, WE WERE GIVEN VARIOUS CLB INSTRUCTIONS BY THE CTLR. UPON BEING HANDED OVER TO ATL CTR WE WERE QUESTIONED AS TO OUR ALT OF 17000' THAT WE WERE CRUISING AT. WE BRIEFLY EXPLAINED THAT WE WERE GIVEN THIS ALT BY CLT DEP. WE HAD 17000' IN OUR ALT ALERTER AND BOTH PLTS BELIEVE WE READ BACK 17000' IN OUR REPLY TO CLT DEP CTL. THE CREW HAD NO IDEA OF ANY PROB UNTIL NOTIFIED BY OUR COMPANY 3 DAYS LATER THAT FAA HAD BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTN WE WERE AT 17000' AND ONLY CLRED TO 12000'. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED FOLLOWING INFO. RPTR STATES CREW WONDERED IF THERE WAS A PROB AFTER BEING QUESTIONED ABOUT ALT, BUT WERE GIVEN NO SPECIFIC INDICATION. WERE QUITE SURPRISED TO HEAR FROM CHIEF PLT THAT FAA WAS INQUIRING. AFTER DISCUSSION WITH FSDO REPRESENTATIVE (BY CHIEF PLT), IT WAS INDICATED THAT NO FURTHER ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN. RPTR CHOSE NOT TO REQUEST TAPES AS HE DID NOT WISH TO 'ROCK THE BOAT.' STATES THAT A SIMILAR INCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT 2 WKS LATER IN THE CHARLOTTE AREA. HE IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT SO MANY CHANGES FROM THE SID, CHANGES IN ALT, HDGS SOON AFTER DEP. WISHES DEP WOULD USE A STRAIGHTFORWARD DEP PROC.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.