Commuter flight crew climbs above assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	323870
Time
Date	199512
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mqt
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zmp tower : tus
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	other : unknown
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 : 80 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 70
ASRS Report	323874
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On climb out of mqt, cleared to 6000 ft, I was going to request 8000 ft. After checking in, I neglected to do this, however, I continued my climb. It was at 6500 ft and queried by ATC that I realized my mistake and leveled, requesting 8000 ft. Cause -- expectancy on my part, I was in a frame of mind to climb to 8000 ft, but neglected to get the clearance. Additional factors: distraction -- passing a PIREP to center and concern with airframe icing. Recommendation: it can happen to anyone, as an ex-military flight safety officer, I've seen countless examples of this so I should know better. But I fell into the same trap. Use the 'minimize' rule. Only essential duties while climbing or descending.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMMUTER FLC CLBS ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: ON CLBOUT OF MQT, CLRED TO 6000 FT, I WAS GOING TO REQUEST 8000 FT. AFTER CHKING IN, I NEGLECTED TO DO THIS, HOWEVER, I CONTINUED MY CLB. IT WAS AT 6500 FT AND QUERIED BY ATC THAT I REALIZED MY MISTAKE AND LEVELED, REQUESTING 8000 FT. CAUSE -- EXPECTANCY ON MY PART, I WAS IN A FRAME OF MIND TO CLB TO 8000 FT, BUT NEGLECTED TO GET THE CLRNC. ADDITIONAL FACTORS: DISTR -- PASSING A PIREP TO CTR AND CONCERN WITH AIRFRAME ICING. RECOMMENDATION: IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE, AS AN EX-MIL FLT SAFETY OFFICER, I'VE SEEN COUNTLESS EXAMPLES OF THIS SO I SHOULD KNOW BETTER. BUT I FELL INTO THE SAME TRAP. USE THE 'MINIMIZE' RULE. ONLY ESSENTIAL DUTIES WHILE CLBING OR DSNDING.

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.