Pilot concern that assigned altitude not consistent with direction of flight.

Attributes
ACN	299724
Time
Date	199503
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zmp
State Reference	MN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5000
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 : zmp
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 630 flight time type : 140
ASRS Report	299724
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Filed IFR flight plan from microphone to spw (microphone to mkt, V219 to frm, direct spw) on red cross flight to pick up blood. VMC conditions, IFR flight plan was for practice. Was assigned altitude of 5000 ft, which I didn't question. Not sure what I asked for when filing with FSS. Flew at 5000 ft southwest on V219 as assigned by mpls approach and ZMP - occurred to me that I should have been given an even number altitude but didn't question. Canceled IFR shortly after passing frm. FARS say fly assigned heading in controled airspace but not sure whether even-odd altitude controls this. Was not questioned by center or FSS, not sure if this is a problem but in future will raise the question if the altitude assigned is not what is expected.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT CONCERN THAT ASSIGNED ALT NOT CONSISTENT WITH DIRECTION OF FLT.

Narrative: FILED IFR FLT PLAN FROM MIC TO SPW (MIC TO MKT, V219 TO FRM, DIRECT SPW) ON RED CROSS FLT TO PICK UP BLOOD. VMC CONDITIONS, IFR FLT PLAN WAS FOR PRACTICE. WAS ASSIGNED ALT OF 5000 FT, WHICH I DIDN'T QUESTION. NOT SURE WHAT I ASKED FOR WHEN FILING WITH FSS. FLEW AT 5000 FT SW ON V219 AS ASSIGNED BY MPLS APCH AND ZMP - OCCURRED TO ME THAT I SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN AN EVEN NUMBER ALT BUT DIDN'T QUESTION. CANCELED IFR SHORTLY AFTER PASSING FRM. FARS SAY FLY ASSIGNED HDG IN CTLED AIRSPACE BUT NOT SURE WHETHER EVEN-ODD ALT CTLS THIS. WAS NOT QUESTIONED BY CTR OR FSS, NOT SURE IF THIS IS A PROB BUT IN FUTURE WILL RAISE THE QUESTION IF THE ALT ASSIGNED IS NOT WHAT IS EXPECTED.

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.