Narrative:

IFR departure from mmu. Clearance delivery at mmu 121.2 cleared flight to gai, mmu vectors to abbys intersection. Departure procedure not given to the pilot, nor was an initial altitude given. Pilot was told to expect 6000' after 5 mins. Airport lies below the outer ring of ny TCA 3000-7000'. Pilot did not know there was a SID for runway 30 departure. Pilot was not told to use mmu 3 departure (vectors). After departure from mmu runway 30, pilot contacted ny departure on 119.2. Pilot told to execute climbing right turn to heading 160 degrees. No initial altitude given by ny departure. Departure assumed pilot was given mmu 3 departure SID by clearance delivery. SID calls for climb to northeast on sbj 055 degree right to 1700', then right turn to heading 160 degrees, maintain 2000'. Pilot climbed at 500 FPM to heading 150 degrees, and at 3300', departure told pilot he should be at 2500'. Pilot never heard or read back altitude clearance to 2500'. Ny departure was upset. System broke down because mmu clearance delivery never told pilot to use SID, nor did clearance delivery give pilot an initial altitude. Pilot should have challenged departure but did not give pilot initial altitude. Pilot did not ask departure to 'verify altitude.' dangerous situation created because pilot on IFR flight plan climbed 300' into ny TCA west/O controller's knowledge.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LOW TIME INS PLT CLIMBED ABOVE THE ASSIGNED ALT LISTED ON THE SID DEP.

Narrative: IFR DEP FROM MMU. CLRNC DELIVERY AT MMU 121.2 CLRED FLT TO GAI, MMU VECTORS TO ABBYS INTXN. DEP PROC NOT GIVEN TO THE PLT, NOR WAS AN INITIAL ALT GIVEN. PLT WAS TOLD TO EXPECT 6000' AFTER 5 MINS. ARPT LIES BELOW THE OUTER RING OF NY TCA 3000-7000'. PLT DID NOT KNOW THERE WAS A SID FOR RWY 30 DEP. PLT WAS NOT TOLD TO USE MMU 3 DEP (VECTORS). AFTER DEP FROM MMU RWY 30, PLT CONTACTED NY DEP ON 119.2. PLT TOLD TO EXECUTE CLBING RIGHT TURN TO HDG 160 DEGS. NO INITIAL ALT GIVEN BY NY DEP. DEP ASSUMED PLT WAS GIVEN MMU 3 DEP SID BY CLRNC DELIVERY. SID CALLS FOR CLB TO NE ON SBJ 055 DEG R TO 1700', THEN RIGHT TURN TO HDG 160 DEGS, MAINTAIN 2000'. PLT CLBED AT 500 FPM TO HDG 150 DEGS, AND AT 3300', DEP TOLD PLT HE SHOULD BE AT 2500'. PLT NEVER HEARD OR READ BACK ALT CLRNC TO 2500'. NY DEP WAS UPSET. SYS BROKE DOWN BECAUSE MMU CLRNC DELIVERY NEVER TOLD PLT TO USE SID, NOR DID CLRNC DELIVERY GIVE PLT AN INITIAL ALT. PLT SHOULD HAVE CHALLENGED DEP BUT DID NOT GIVE PLT INITIAL ALT. PLT DID NOT ASK DEP TO 'VERIFY ALT.' DANGEROUS SITUATION CREATED BECAUSE PLT ON IFR FLT PLAN CLBED 300' INTO NY TCA W/O CTLR'S KNOWLEDGE.

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.