Small transport pilot climbs above assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	223089
Time
Date	199210
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : phx
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phx
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 1600 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	223089
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	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:

Cleared for departure runway 26L, maintain runway heading, 3000 ft MSL. After departure, was given 320 heading. I had set trim for 140 mph climb, was switched to departure frequency 120.7 and controller indicated no transponder. I was about to level off at 3000 ft MSL when controller called, I reset transponder and squawk code. At this point I noticed I was climbing through 3700 MSL. The transponder became operational, and the controller asked me if I was at 3700 MSL. I affirmed. Controller told me I had been cleared to 3000 ft, and to return to 3000 ft MSL. I told him I thought I had been cleared to 6000 ft with the right turn to 320 degree. Had the transponder been operating, I would not have flown through my assigned altitude, I became focused on the transponder problem, and was not mentally flying the aircraft. I did not follow the old saying, aviate, navigate, communicate. On all departures from phx, departure clrncs had been amended just after liftoff. All my VFR departure clrncs from phx have been runway heading, maintain 3000 ft. Every time after liftoff, I've been given 320 degree heading, climb 6000. I assumed that I had been given 6000 ft MSL with my 320 degree turn. I didn't hear the amended clearance correctly.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMT PLT CLBS ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: CLRED FOR DEP RWY 26L, MAINTAIN RWY HDG, 3000 FT MSL. AFTER DEP, WAS GIVEN 320 HDG. I HAD SET TRIM FOR 140 MPH CLB, WAS SWITCHED TO DEP FREQ 120.7 AND CTLR INDICATED NO TRANSPONDER. I WAS ABOUT TO LEVEL OFF AT 3000 FT MSL WHEN CTLR CALLED, I RESET TRANSPONDER AND SQUAWK CODE. AT THIS POINT I NOTICED I WAS CLBING THROUGH 3700 MSL. THE TRANSPONDER BECAME OPERATIONAL, AND THE CTLR ASKED ME IF I WAS AT 3700 MSL. I AFFIRMED. CTLR TOLD ME I HAD BEEN CLRED TO 3000 FT, AND TO RETURN TO 3000 FT MSL. I TOLD HIM I THOUGHT I HAD BEEN CLRED TO 6000 FT WITH THE R TURN TO 320 DEG. HAD THE TRANSPONDER BEEN OPERATING, I WOULD NOT HAVE FLOWN THROUGH MY ASSIGNED ALT, I BECAME FOCUSED ON THE TRANSPONDER PROBLEM, AND WAS NOT MENTALLY FLYING THE ACFT. I DID NOT FOLLOW THE OLD SAYING, AVIATE, NAVIGATE, COMMUNICATE. ON ALL DEPS FROM PHX, DEP CLRNCS HAD BEEN AMENDED JUST AFTER LIFTOFF. ALL MY VFR DEP CLRNCS FROM PHX HAVE BEEN RWY HDG, MAINTAIN 3000 FT. EVERY TIME AFTER LIFTOFF, I'VE BEEN GIVEN 320 DEG HDG, CLB 6000. I ASSUMED THAT I HAD BEEN GIVEN 6000 FT MSL WITH MY 320 DEG TURN. I DIDN'T HEAR THE AMENDED CLRNC CORRECTLY.

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.