Flight crew climbed above their assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	182242
Time
Date	199106
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ont
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 15000 msl bound upper : 16000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : pdx
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other descent other
Route In Use	departure other departure sid : sid enroute airway : zla
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 1400
ASRS Report	182242
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 3000 vertical : 1000
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We were on climb out from ont, en route sdf, under radar control from ont departure control. We were radar control from ont departure control. We were initially assigned 7000 ft, then 12000 ft AGL assigned altitude. We were then assigned 17000 ft MSL. There may have been a previous assigned altitude between 12000 ft and 17000 ft, the crew cannot recall positively. On passing through 16000 ft en route to 17000 ft, ZLA control transmitted that we were cleared to 15000 ft. Immediate corrective action descent was made to 15000 ft. Traffic passed 1/2 NM north of our position at 16000 ft. In recalling the incident, we are certain that we were cleared to 17000, and that I read back that clearance properly.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC CLBED ABOVE THEIR ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: WE WERE ON CLBOUT FROM ONT, ENRTE SDF, UNDER RADAR CTL FROM ONT DEP CTL. WE WERE RADAR CTL FROM ONT DEP CTL. WE WERE INITIALLY ASSIGNED 7000 FT, THEN 12000 FT AGL ASSIGNED ALT. WE WERE THEN ASSIGNED 17000 FT MSL. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A PREVIOUS ASSIGNED ALT BTWN 12000 FT AND 17000 FT, THE CREW CANNOT RECALL POSITIVELY. ON PASSING THROUGH 16000 FT ENRTE TO 17000 FT, ZLA CTL XMITTED THAT WE WERE CLRED TO 15000 FT. IMMEDIATE CORRECTIVE ACTION DSCNT WAS MADE TO 15000 FT. TFC PASSED 1/2 NM N OF OUR POS AT 16000 FT. IN RECALLING THE INCIDENT, WE ARE CERTAIN THAT WE WERE CLRED TO 17000, AND THAT I READ BACK THAT CLRNC PROPERLY.

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.