Altitude deviation. Misunderstood clearance and climbed above altitude.

Attributes
ACN	306370
Time
Date	199505
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mth
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zma
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Shorts SD-360
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 450
ASRS Report	306370
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After takeoff VFR to pick up IFR airborne en route mth to mia, ATC assigned 5000 ft. Through 4500 ft I called 500 ft to go. I was PNF. Captain, I thought, understood assignment. (He heard the controller say 7000 ft). I went off communication #1 to talk to company to give out times as we leveled in cruise. Next I knew, I looked up and we were at 5000 ft and ATC asked if we wanted 5000 ft or 7000 ft. He then sent us back to 5000 ft. I now know to double-check with other pilot to verify he has heard what I did. Even if I call 500 ft to go! We were empty at the time, and the airplane was performing exceptionally well! More diligence on PF would also have helped.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV. MISUNDERSTOOD CLRNC AND CLBED ABOVE ALT.

Narrative: AFTER TKOF VFR TO PICK UP IFR AIRBORNE ENRTE MTH TO MIA, ATC ASSIGNED 5000 FT. THROUGH 4500 FT I CALLED 500 FT TO GO. I WAS PNF. CAPT, I THOUGHT, UNDERSTOOD ASSIGNMENT. (HE HEARD THE CTLR SAY 7000 FT). I WENT OFF COM #1 TO TALK TO COMPANY TO GIVE OUT TIMES AS WE LEVELED IN CRUISE. NEXT I KNEW, I LOOKED UP AND WE WERE AT 5000 FT AND ATC ASKED IF WE WANTED 5000 FT OR 7000 FT. HE THEN SENT US BACK TO 5000 FT. I NOW KNOW TO DOUBLE-CHK WITH OTHER PLT TO VERIFY HE HAS HEARD WHAT I DID. EVEN IF I CALL 500 FT TO GO! WE WERE EMPTY AT THE TIME, AND THE AIRPLANE WAS PERFORMING EXCEPTIONALLY WELL! MORE DILIGENCE ON PF WOULD ALSO HAVE HELPED.

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.