Air ambulance on departure climbs above assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	182340
Time
Date	199106
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sbp
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure sid : sid
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	182340
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departing sbp IFR, clearance was crepe 3 departure, maintain 5000', expect 12000' in 10 mins. After handoff to center for departure control, we (crew) understood and read back, 'leaving 5000, turn left heading 240 degrees for vector on course.' first officer was flying and turned to assigned heading climbing through 5000'. At 5300' center advised assigned altitude was 5000'. We had climbed to 5500' by now and immediately descended to 5000'. Center then informed us we had traffic at 12 O'clock and 1 mi at 6000' on the localizer. After passing traffic (IMC) higher altitude was assigned and climb resumed. In the cockpit the words 'reaching' and 'leaving' sound much alike. We (crew) now believe clearance was probably 'reaching 5000' turn,' etc. Even our readback to the controller with 'leaving' didn't catch the different wording.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AIR AMBULANCE ON DEP CLIMBS ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: DEPARTING SBP IFR, CLRNC WAS CREPE 3 DEP, MAINTAIN 5000', EXPECT 12000' IN 10 MINS. AFTER HDOF TO CENTER FOR DEP CTL, WE (CREW) UNDERSTOOD AND READ BACK, 'LEAVING 5000, TURN LEFT HDG 240 DEGS FOR VECTOR ON COURSE.' F/O WAS FLYING AND TURNED TO ASSIGNED HDG CLBING THROUGH 5000'. AT 5300' CENTER ADVISED ASSIGNED ALT WAS 5000'. WE HAD CLBED TO 5500' BY NOW AND IMMEDIATELY DSNDED TO 5000'. CENTER THEN INFORMED US WE HAD TFC AT 12 O'CLOCK AND 1 MI AT 6000' ON THE LOC. AFTER PASSING TFC (IMC) HIGHER ALT WAS ASSIGNED AND CLB RESUMED. IN THE COCKPIT THE WORDS 'REACHING' AND 'LEAVING' SOUND MUCH ALIKE. WE (CREW) NOW BELIEVE CLRNC WAS PROBABLY 'REACHING 5000' TURN,' ETC. EVEN OUR READBACK TO THE CTLR WITH 'LEAVING' DIDN'T CATCH THE DIFFERENT WORDING.

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.