Small aircraft levels 1000' above assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	181053
Time
Date	199106
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lax
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : lax
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 400 flight time type : 12
ASRS Report	181053
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Upon receiving a clearance to climb to and maintain 6000' a private pilot (in the aircraft with me flying the aircraft) climbed to 7000'. ATC asked 'what altitude were you cleared to and why aren't you at it now?' I replied 'we understood our clearance to be 7000'.' we then descended to 6000'. I knew we were supposed to be at 6000' but I didn't see that the other pilot had gone to 7000' until immediately questioned by ATC. Responsibility for this incident will be with me as I was PIC. However the incident was not all my fault. Responsibility needs to be deligated to who made the mistake also, not just PIC.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA LEVELS 1000' ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: UPON RECEIVING A CLRNC TO CLB TO AND MAINTAIN 6000' A PVT PLT (IN THE ACFT WITH ME FLYING THE ACFT) CLBED TO 7000'. ATC ASKED 'WHAT ALT WERE YOU CLRED TO AND WHY AREN'T YOU AT IT NOW?' I REPLIED 'WE UNDERSTOOD OUR CLRNC TO BE 7000'.' WE THEN DSNDED TO 6000'. I KNEW WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE AT 6000' BUT I DIDN'T SEE THAT THE OTHER PLT HAD GONE TO 7000' UNTIL IMMEDIATELY QUESTIONED BY ATC. RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS INCIDENT WILL BE WITH ME AS I WAS PIC. HOWEVER THE INCIDENT WAS NOT ALL MY FAULT. RESPONSIBILITY NEEDS TO BE DELIGATED TO WHO MADE THE MISTAKE ALSO, NOT JUST PIC.

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.