Flight crew departs from assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	314559
Time
Date	199509
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hpn
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 12800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Citation II S2/Bravo
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	314559
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 3600 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	314560
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

CE550. Departure 2 crew, 2 passenger from hpn. Assigned heading of 220 degrees and level at 12000 ft. New york departure then assigned heading of 240 degrees. The PIC, PF at time, turned to heading of 240 degrees. The first officer read back 'up to 240' and set the altitude alerter. 1 passenger was also forward asking for additional heat in passenger compartment. Moments later the first officer pointed to the altitude alerter suggesting I start my climb to FL240. As the climb was started I realized that he (first officer) heard an altitude climb to FL240, and I had only heard a turn to a heading of 240 degrees. ATC was immediately queried for a confirmation. Our climb was stopped at 12800 ft. New york departure verified a turn only to heading 240 degrees and to stop climb and maintain 12800 ft. There are several factors contributing to this event. 1) PIC should always verify heading and altitudes with those set and read back by first officer. In this event I would have noticed his heading bug still set at previously assigned heading of 210 degrees and altitude alerter set at FL240. A conflict requiring immediate verification. 2) less interference from passenger especially during periods of flight over high density airspace.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC DEPARTS FROM ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: CE550. DEP 2 CREW, 2 PAX FROM HPN. ASSIGNED HDG OF 220 DEGS AND LEVEL AT 12000 FT. NEW YORK DEP THEN ASSIGNED HDG OF 240 DEGS. THE PIC, PF AT TIME, TURNED TO HDG OF 240 DEGS. THE FO READ BACK 'UP TO 240' AND SET THE ALT ALERTER. 1 PAX WAS ALSO FORWARD ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL HEAT IN PAX COMPARTMENT. MOMENTS LATER THE FO POINTED TO THE ALT ALERTER SUGGESTING I START MY CLB TO FL240. AS THE CLB WAS STARTED I REALIZED THAT HE (FO) HEARD AN ALT CLB TO FL240, AND I HAD ONLY HEARD A TURN TO A HDG OF 240 DEGS. ATC WAS IMMEDIATELY QUERIED FOR A CONFIRMATION. OUR CLB WAS STOPPED AT 12800 FT. NEW YORK DEP VERIFIED A TURN ONLY TO HDG 240 DEGS AND TO STOP CLB AND MAINTAIN 12800 FT. THERE ARE SEVERAL FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THIS EVENT. 1) PIC SHOULD ALWAYS VERIFY HDG AND ALTS WITH THOSE SET AND READ BACK BY FO. IN THIS EVENT I WOULD HAVE NOTICED HIS HDG BUG STILL SET AT PREVIOUSLY ASSIGNED HDG OF 210 DEGS AND ALT ALERTER SET AT FL240. A CONFLICT REQUIRING IMMEDIATE VERIFICATION. 2) LESS INTERFERENCE FROM PAX ESPECIALLY DURING PERIODS OF FLT OVER HIGH DENSITY AIRSPACE.

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.