An air carrier B737-300 overshot the crossing altitude on the loupe 9 SID.

Attributes
ACN	339938
Time
Date	199606
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sjc
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 12600
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sjc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure other departure sid : sid
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 3200
ASRS Report	339938
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 110 flight time total : 8450 flight time type : 550
ASRS Report	339170
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Departing sjc on loupe 9 departure. While on 120 degree heading cleared to 6000 ft, then cleared direct to sjc VOR, cross at or above 12000 ft to maintain FL230. I read back the clearance. Approximately 1.5 NM southeast of sjc VOR and passing 12600 ft, departure asked us what we were doing. I replied that we were climbing to FL230 as cleared. We were then cleared to cross the VOR at 12000 ft, then climb to FL230. We complied and descended to 12000 ft, crossed VOR and commenced climb to FL230. I then explained to the controller that my understanding was to cross at or above 12000 ft and climb to FL230, was there any problem? The controller responded that there was no problem. Supplemental information from acn 339170: controller gave us clearance to 'cross the VOR at or above 12000 ft, climb maintain FL230.' the captain read back the climb to FL230 and I also acknowledged the unrestr climb. The SID does specify 12000 ft at the VOR.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR B737-300 OVERSHOT THE XING ALT ON THE LOUPE 9 SID.

Narrative: DEPARTING SJC ON LOUPE 9 DEP. WHILE ON 120 DEG HDG CLRED TO 6000 FT, THEN CLRED DIRECT TO SJC VOR, CROSS AT OR ABOVE 12000 FT TO MAINTAIN FL230. I READ BACK THE CLRNC. APPROX 1.5 NM SE OF SJC VOR AND PASSING 12600 FT, DEP ASKED US WHAT WE WERE DOING. I REPLIED THAT WE WERE CLBING TO FL230 AS CLRED. WE WERE THEN CLRED TO CROSS THE VOR AT 12000 FT, THEN CLB TO FL230. WE COMPLIED AND DSNDED TO 12000 FT, CROSSED VOR AND COMMENCED CLB TO FL230. I THEN EXPLAINED TO THE CTLR THAT MY UNDERSTANDING WAS TO CROSS AT OR ABOVE 12000 FT AND CLB TO FL230, WAS THERE ANY PROB? THE CTLR RESPONDED THAT THERE WAS NO PROB. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 339170: CTLR GAVE US CLRNC TO 'CROSS THE VOR AT OR ABOVE 12000 FT, CLB MAINTAIN FL230.' THE CAPT READ BACK THE CLB TO FL230 AND I ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED THE UNRESTR CLB. THE SID DOES SPECIFY 12000 FT AT THE VOR.

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.