Private pilot of a small aircraft sel failed to climb to the IFR flight plan cruise altitude.

Attributes
ACN	279280
Time
Date	199408
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dll
State Reference	WI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4500 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : v170
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : passenger observation : observer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 800 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	279280
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation
Situations
ATC Facility	other physical facility
Airport	other physical facility

Narrative:

En route osh to mcw. We departed osh VFR with plans to obtain our IFR clearance from madison approach. This plan was per the advice of osh clearance delivery and osh class 2 NOTAM page 21. After departing osh we were able to climb VFR through a hole to on top. Tops of clouds were about 3000 ft MSL. At 4500 ft, in VMC, we proceeded along flight planned route via rando, V-170 to dll. Near rando we contacted madison for our IFR clearance. Madison advised that they did not have our flight plan. They also were advising other traffic that chicago had 'bad' computers and that many flight plans were missing (or words to that effect). Madison advised us to proceed on course, and in due time turned us over to ZAU. At some point ZAU must have converted us to 'IFR.' I am not clear as to when. Communications were, at best, difficult. We were maintaining 4500 ft MSL in VMC, thinking we were being provided flight following service only. Near dll we were advised to 'climb immediately to 6000 ft, you have traffic.' the female controller seemed very upset that we were not at 6000 ft. 6000 ft was our flight planned altitude. We climbed to 6000 ft. The remainder of the flight was handled IFR. Problem: when did the flight go from VFR to IFR? Bad communications. I am not sure what I would do different next time.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PVT PLT OF A SMA SEL FAILED TO CLB TO THE IFR FLT PLAN CRUISE ALT.

Narrative: ENRTE OSH TO MCW. WE DEPARTED OSH VFR WITH PLANS TO OBTAIN OUR IFR CLRNC FROM MADISON APCH. THIS PLAN WAS PER THE ADVICE OF OSH CLRNC DELIVERY AND OSH CLASS 2 NOTAM PAGE 21. AFTER DEPARTING OSH WE WERE ABLE TO CLB VFR THROUGH A HOLE TO ON TOP. TOPS OF CLOUDS WERE ABOUT 3000 FT MSL. AT 4500 FT, IN VMC, WE PROCEEDED ALONG FLT PLANNED RTE VIA RANDO, V-170 TO DLL. NEAR RANDO WE CONTACTED MADISON FOR OUR IFR CLRNC. MADISON ADVISED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE OUR FLT PLAN. THEY ALSO WERE ADVISING OTHER TFC THAT CHICAGO HAD 'BAD' COMPUTERS AND THAT MANY FLT PLANS WERE MISSING (OR WORDS TO THAT EFFECT). MADISON ADVISED US TO PROCEED ON COURSE, AND IN DUE TIME TURNED US OVER TO ZAU. AT SOME POINT ZAU MUST HAVE CONVERTED US TO 'IFR.' I AM NOT CLR AS TO WHEN. COMS WERE, AT BEST, DIFFICULT. WE WERE MAINTAINING 4500 FT MSL IN VMC, THINKING WE WERE BEING PROVIDED FLT FOLLOWING SVC ONLY. NEAR DLL WE WERE ADVISED TO 'CLB IMMEDIATELY TO 6000 FT, YOU HAVE TFC.' THE FEMALE CTLR SEEMED VERY UPSET THAT WE WERE NOT AT 6000 FT. 6000 FT WAS OUR FLT PLANNED ALT. WE CLBED TO 6000 FT. THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT WAS HANDLED IFR. PROBLEM: WHEN DID THE FLT GO FROM VFR TO IFR? BAD COMS. I AM NOT SURE WHAT I WOULD DO DIFFERENT NEXT TIME.

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.