Flight crew of light transport cleared 11000' expect 12000'. First officer flying climbed to 12000'.

Attributes
ACN	164511
Time
Date	199012
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tri
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11000 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 4300 flight time type : 70
ASRS Report	164511
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

The first officer was flying the aircraft. We normally cruise at 18000' on this route, but due to winds aloft and WX conditions we decided on 12000' for a final cruise altitude. We were handed off to memphis center while climbing through approximately 5000'. After checking in, our clearance was to 11000' and we were told to 'expect 12000'.' climbing at roughly 1200 FPM, I (the PNF) selected 11000 on the altitude alerter. Through 10000' I performed the '10000/climbing' checklist and began to activate our anti-ice equipment as we were entering an area of probable icing. Upon level off, I noticed we were at 12000' and not 11000'. As I was about to inform center, he called and cleared us to 12000'. I acknowledged, and nothing was said about the matter between us and center. I looked at the altitude alerter and discovered that it had been reset to 12000' by the first officer (who was also flying the airplane). I explained to him that we were told to 'expect' 12000' and that we were only cleared to 11000', which is why I set the altitude alerter to 11000'. He told me that he thought we were cleared to 12000' and (since I was busy with the checklists and anti-ice equipment) he reset the alerter to 12000'. Our 1000' deviation was the result.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF LTT CLEARED 11000' EXPECT 12000'. FO FLYING CLIMBED TO 12000'.

Narrative: THE F/O WAS FLYING THE ACFT. WE NORMALLY CRUISE AT 18000' ON THIS RTE, BUT DUE TO WINDS ALOFT AND WX CONDITIONS WE DECIDED ON 12000' FOR A FINAL CRUISE ALT. WE WERE HANDED OFF TO MEMPHIS CTR WHILE CLBING THROUGH APPROX 5000'. AFTER CHKING IN, OUR CLRNC WAS TO 11000' AND WE WERE TOLD TO 'EXPECT 12000'.' CLBING AT ROUGHLY 1200 FPM, I (THE PNF) SELECTED 11000 ON THE ALT ALERTER. THROUGH 10000' I PERFORMED THE '10000/CLBING' CHKLIST AND BEGAN TO ACTIVATE OUR ANTI-ICE EQUIP AS WE WERE ENTERING AN AREA OF PROBABLE ICING. UPON LEVEL OFF, I NOTICED WE WERE AT 12000' AND NOT 11000'. AS I WAS ABOUT TO INFORM CTR, HE CALLED AND CLRED US TO 12000'. I ACKNOWLEDGED, AND NOTHING WAS SAID ABOUT THE MATTER BTWN US AND CTR. I LOOKED AT THE ALT ALERTER AND DISCOVERED THAT IT HAD BEEN RESET TO 12000' BY THE F/O (WHO WAS ALSO FLYING THE AIRPLANE). I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT WE WERE TOLD TO 'EXPECT' 12000' AND THAT WE WERE ONLY CLRED TO 11000', WHICH IS WHY I SET THE ALT ALERTER TO 11000'. HE TOLD ME THAT HE THOUGHT WE WERE CLRED TO 12000' AND (SINCE I WAS BUSY WITH THE CHKLISTS AND ANTI-ICE EQUIP) HE RESET THE ALERTER TO 12000'. OUR 1000' DEV WAS THE RESULT.

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.