Pilot of atx excursion from assigned altitude of FL200.

Attributes
ACN	175739
Time
Date	199104
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : als
State Reference	NM
Altitude	msl bound lower : 20000 msl bound upper : 21000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 9800
ASRS Report	175739
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Approximately 20 DME south of ALS in cruise at FL200 center informed me that there was in-flight refueling ahead and did I want FL170 or FL220 for an altitude. I chose FL220 and alb center cleared me to FL220. At FL204 abq center called back and said the in-flight refueling was cancelled and did I wish to return to FL200 or continue to FL220. I informed that I would like to return to FL200 and center cleared me back to FL200. I leveled off at FL200 and reengaged the altitude hold on the autoplt. I then proceeded to work on a weight and balance computation that I had been doing before abw center called the first time. After about 5-7 mi center called and asked my altitude. I looked up at the altimeter and was shocked to see it reading FL210. I told center I was at FL210 and he informed me that I had been assigned FL200. I told him that I was aware of the assigned altitude as I disconnected the autoplt and did a rapid descent to FL200 and reported level. Nothing more was heard from abq center.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF ATX EXCURSION FROM ASSIGNED ALT OF FL200.

Narrative: APPROX 20 DME S OF ALS IN CRUISE AT FL200 CTR INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS INFLT REFUELING AHEAD AND DID I WANT FL170 OR FL220 FOR AN ALT. I CHOSE FL220 AND ALB CTR CLRED ME TO FL220. AT FL204 ABQ CTR CALLED BACK AND SAID THE INFLT REFUELING WAS CANCELLED AND DID I WISH TO RETURN TO FL200 OR CONTINUE TO FL220. I INFORMED THAT I WOULD LIKE TO RETURN TO FL200 AND CTR CLRED ME BACK TO FL200. I LEVELED OFF AT FL200 AND REENGAGED THE ALT HOLD ON THE AUTOPLT. I THEN PROCEEDED TO WORK ON A WEIGHT AND BALANCE COMPUTATION THAT I HAD BEEN DOING BEFORE ABW CTR CALLED THE FIRST TIME. AFTER ABOUT 5-7 MI CTR CALLED AND ASKED MY ALT. I LOOKED UP AT THE ALTIMETER AND WAS SHOCKED TO SEE IT READING FL210. I TOLD CTR I WAS AT FL210 AND HE INFORMED ME THAT I HAD BEEN ASSIGNED FL200. I TOLD HIM THAT I WAS AWARE OF THE ASSIGNED ALT AS I DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT AND DID A RAPID DSNT TO FL200 AND RPTED LEVEL. NOTHING MORE WAS HEARD FROM ABQ CTR.

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.