Altitude deviation altitude excursion in a clearance interpretation problem.

Attributes
ACN	189106
Time
Date	199109
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pdx
State Reference	OR
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 2200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pdx artcc : zhu
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 2343 flight time type : 75
ASRS Report	189106
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Climbing out of pdx on assigned heading of 040 degree I was told to contact departure. On initial contact with departure I was told to resume own navigation. I thought this was also lifting the altitude restriction of 1500 ft. Hearing the words 'resume own navigation' many times, I forgot and assumed also 'appropriate VFR altitude' but I was mistaken. When controller asked what altitude I would be flying at I said 2200 ft. He asked if I was assigned 2000? I told the controller on initial contact/clearance delivery assigned 1500 ft. The controller stated, resume own navigation, say altitude climbing to. I told him 2200 ft. I assumed, once resume own navigation was stated I could climb. I started to descend back down when he stated to ask questions. Nothing more was said about this and he asked me when I was going to come back to portland. Things got vague between myself and the controller. I shouldn't have assumed. I should have stayed at 1500 ft. Test flight in foreign aircraft, watching system. I called TRACON and he explained the procedure that when 'resume own navigation' is stated that is not an altitude clearance to climb.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEV ALT EXCURSION IN A CLRNC INTERP PROBLEM.

Narrative: CLBING OUT OF PDX ON ASSIGNED HDG OF 040 DEG I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT DEP. ON INITIAL CONTACT WITH DEP I WAS TOLD TO RESUME OWN NAV. I THOUGHT THIS WAS ALSO LIFTING THE ALT RESTRICTION OF 1500 FT. HEARING THE WORDS 'RESUME OWN NAV' MANY TIMES, I FORGOT AND ASSUMED ALSO 'APPROPRIATE VFR ALT' BUT I WAS MISTAKEN. WHEN CTLR ASKED WHAT ALT I WOULD BE FLYING AT I SAID 2200 FT. HE ASKED IF I WAS ASSIGNED 2000? I TOLD THE CTLR ON INITIAL CONTACT/CLRNC DELIVERY ASSIGNED 1500 FT. THE CTLR STATED, RESUME OWN NAV, SAY ALT CLBING TO. I TOLD HIM 2200 FT. I ASSUMED, ONCE RESUME OWN NAV WAS STATED I COULD CLB. I STARTED TO DSND BACK DOWN WHEN HE STATED TO ASK QUESTIONS. NOTHING MORE WAS SAID ABOUT THIS AND HE ASKED ME WHEN I WAS GOING TO COME BACK TO PORTLAND. THINGS GOT VAGUE BTWN MYSELF AND THE CTLR. I SHOULDN'T HAVE ASSUMED. I SHOULD HAVE STAYED AT 1500 FT. TEST FLT IN FOREIGN ACFT, WATCHING SYS. I CALLED TRACON AND HE EXPLAINED THE PROC THAT WHEN 'RESUME OWN NAV' IS STATED THAT IS NOT AN ALT CLRNC TO CLB.

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.