Narrative:

While receiving departure clearance, we had a very hard time understanding the controller because of his accent. With several attempts, we determined that we were cleared to zurich via the 7-CHARLIE departure. The departure included the following: maintain runway until 3 DME or 1900 ft whichever is the latest, then turn right to intercept the 044 degree radial from geneva, climb and maintain 4000 ft. After completing the turn and level at 4000 ft and increasing speed to 250 KTS, a few seconds later, the departure controller asked what is our altitude, we replied 4000 ft. He then said to pull up, climb to 9000 ft. I discussed this situation with the copilot, and we both agreed that we were never given a climb clearance to 9000 ft. I feel this could have been avoided if we questioned the clearance that we were given in more detail. It's possible another determining factor was the communication factor.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ATX LEAR JET FAILED TO CLB IN DESIGNATED MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

Narrative: WHILE RECEIVING DEP CLRNC, WE HAD A VERY HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING THE CTLR BECAUSE OF HIS ACCENT. WITH SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, WE DETERMINED THAT WE WERE CLRED TO ZURICH VIA THE 7-CHARLIE DEP. THE DEP INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING: MAINTAIN RWY UNTIL 3 DME OR 1900 FT WHICHEVER IS THE LATEST, THEN TURN R TO INTERCEPT THE 044 DEG RADIAL FROM GENEVA, CLB AND MAINTAIN 4000 FT. AFTER COMPLETING THE TURN AND LEVEL AT 4000 FT AND INCREASING SPD TO 250 KTS, A FEW SECONDS LATER, THE DEP CTLR ASKED WHAT IS OUR ALT, WE REPLIED 4000 FT. HE THEN SAID TO PULL UP, CLB TO 9000 FT. I DISCUSSED THIS SIT WITH THE COPLT, AND WE BOTH AGREED THAT WE WERE NEVER GIVEN A CLB CLRNC TO 9000 FT. I FEEL THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF WE QUESTIONED THE CLRNC THAT WE WERE GIVEN IN MORE DETAIL. IT'S POSSIBLE ANOTHER DETERMINING FACTOR WAS THE COM FACTOR.

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.