Possible altitude deviation, an air carrier medium large transport crew was climbing to an altitude that may not have yet been assigned.

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Attributes
ACN	319587
Time
Date	199510
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : czq
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 35000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zoa
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 8000
ASRS Report	319587
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	319586
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
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:

Climbing through FL355 ATC advised us that we were only cleared to FL350 and to return to that altitude, which we did. We had set FL370 in the fmcs. Neither my first officer or I are sure whether we set the incorrect altitude, misunderstood the instructions or really were cleared to FL370. Supplemental information from acn 319586: we were at FL290 and told to 'climb and maintain FL350, expect FL370 in 4 mins.' approaching FL350, center called '(garbled) FL370.' the captain 'rogered FL370' and I continued the climb to FL370. Since this was about the 4 min point, I climbed. At about FL355, center said 'air carrier, I show you a little high, confirm you are level FL350.' I responded, 'we were cleared to FL370.' center said, 'descend to and maintain FL350.' I complied, however, before I could get to FL350, center again cleared me to FL370 and added 'no traffic conflict.' this was my first 'altitude bust' in 8 yrs of 121 flying. I cite noisy cockpit, fatigue and prevailing rush, rush, rush attitude that this industry has adopted.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: POSSIBLE ALTDEV, AN ACR MLG CREW WAS CLBING TO AN ALT THAT MAY NOT HAVE YET BEEN ASSIGNED.

Narrative: CLBING THROUGH FL355 ATC ADVISED US THAT WE WERE ONLY CLRED TO FL350 AND TO RETURN TO THAT ALT, WHICH WE DID. WE HAD SET FL370 IN THE FMCS. NEITHER MY FO OR I ARE SURE WHETHER WE SET THE INCORRECT ALT, MISUNDERSTOOD THE INSTRUCTIONS OR REALLY WERE CLRED TO FL370. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 319586: WE WERE AT FL290 AND TOLD TO 'CLB AND MAINTAIN FL350, EXPECT FL370 IN 4 MINS.' APCHING FL350, CTR CALLED '(GARBLED) FL370.' THE CAPT 'ROGERED FL370' AND I CONTINUED THE CLB TO FL370. SINCE THIS WAS ABOUT THE 4 MIN POINT, I CLBED. AT ABOUT FL355, CTR SAID 'ACR, I SHOW YOU A LITTLE HIGH, CONFIRM YOU ARE LEVEL FL350.' I RESPONDED, 'WE WERE CLRED TO FL370.' CTR SAID, 'DSND TO AND MAINTAIN FL350.' I COMPLIED, HOWEVER, BEFORE I COULD GET TO FL350, CTR AGAIN CLRED ME TO FL370 AND ADDED 'NO TFC CONFLICT.' THIS WAS MY FIRST 'ALT BUST' IN 8 YRS OF 121 FLYING. I CITE NOISY COCKPIT, FATIGUE AND PREVAILING RUSH, RUSH, RUSH ATTITUDE THAT THIS INDUSTRY HAS ADOPTED.

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.