After handoff to center, flight was queried reference altitude and reassigned 12000.

Attributes
ACN	196336
Time
Date	199112
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dtw
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 13000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob tracon : dtw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 260 flight time total : 1900
ASRS Report	196336
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Inter Facility Coordination Failure other

Narrative:

We were climbing out of dtw. I was PF. Captain was PNF and handling radios. While climbing out dtw departure (134.3) cleared us to 13000. Captain read back 13000. Around 10000 or so we were told to contact cleveland center on 118.95. Captain checked on with center. Leveling off at 13000 cleveland center called us with 'say your altitude.' we responded 13000. Cleveland said we were cleared only to 12000 and to descend to 12000. I started a descent to 12000. Captain got on radio 2 and called dtw departure. I monitored cleveland with #1 radio. Captain called dtw and asked what altitude we were cleared to. Dtw responded with 13000. We appeared to be a victim of circumstances. It was either a bad handoff from dtw to cle or a mistake by dtw. Either way it could've been averted by checking on with 'cleveland center, out of 10000, climbing 13000.' then center would have realized we were where they didn't want us. I cannot remember if we checked on in this manner or not.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AFTER HDOF TO CENTER, FLT WAS QUERIED REF ALT AND REASSIGNED 12000.

Narrative: WE WERE CLBING OUT OF DTW. I WAS PF. CAPT WAS PNF AND HANDLING RADIOS. WHILE CLBING OUT DTW DEP (134.3) CLRED US TO 13000. CAPT READ BACK 13000. AROUND 10000 OR SO WE WERE TOLD TO CONTACT CLEVELAND CENTER ON 118.95. CAPT CHKED ON WITH CENTER. LEVELING OFF AT 13000 CLEVELAND CENTER CALLED US WITH 'SAY YOUR ALT.' WE RESPONDED 13000. CLEVELAND SAID WE WERE CLRED ONLY TO 12000 AND TO DSND TO 12000. I STARTED A DSCNT TO 12000. CAPT GOT ON RADIO 2 AND CALLED DTW DEP. I MONITORED CLEVELAND WITH #1 RADIO. CAPT CALLED DTW AND ASKED WHAT ALT WE WERE CLRED TO. DTW RESPONDED WITH 13000. WE APPEARED TO BE A VICTIM OF CIRCUMSTANCES. IT WAS EITHER A BAD HDOF FROM DTW TO CLE OR A MISTAKE BY DTW. EITHER WAY IT COULD'VE BEEN AVERTED BY CHKING ON WITH 'CLEVELAND CENTER, OUT OF 10000, CLBING 13000.' THEN CENTER WOULD HAVE REALIZED WE WERE WHERE THEY DIDN'T WANT US. I CANNOT REMEMBER IF WE CHKED ON IN THIS MANNER OR NOT.

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.