Narrative:

I was acting as flight instructor, PNF, for owner of aircraft. I was listed as PIC on flight plan and had received a clearance and void time by phone before takeoff. Clearance was to 4000 ft, direct vuz. There were thunderstorms in that direction (northwest), so we proceeded in VMC east. ATC could not understand why we saw thunderstorms and she could not see them on radar. In the confusion of talking with her, we inadvertently climbed to 5300 ft. When she reported radar contact, she cleared us to 8000 ft, and said she showed us out of 5300 ft. Although the owner was experienced, he learned that in these sits, the most important task is to fly the aircraft, and maintain situational awareness and control of the flight.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DURING AN INST TRAINING FLT, THE STUDENT FAILED TO MAINTAIN ASSIGNED ALT AND LET THE ACFT CLB 1300 FT ABOVE UNTIL ATC INTERVENED AND CLRED THEM TO A HIGHER ALT.

Narrative: I WAS ACTING AS FLT INSTRUCTOR, PNF, FOR OWNER OF ACFT. I WAS LISTED AS PIC ON FLT PLAN AND HAD RECEIVED A CLRNC AND VOID TIME BY PHONE BEFORE TKOF. CLRNC WAS TO 4000 FT, DIRECT VUZ. THERE WERE TSTMS IN THAT DIRECTION (NW), SO WE PROCEEDED IN VMC E. ATC COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY WE SAW TSTMS AND SHE COULD NOT SEE THEM ON RADAR. IN THE CONFUSION OF TALKING WITH HER, WE INADVERTENTLY CLBED TO 5300 FT. WHEN SHE RPTED RADAR CONTACT, SHE CLRED US TO 8000 FT, AND SAID SHE SHOWED US OUT OF 5300 FT. ALTHOUGH THE OWNER WAS EXPERIENCED, HE LEARNED THAT IN THESE SITS, THE MOST IMPORTANT TASK IS TO FLY THE ACFT, AND MAINTAIN SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND CTL OF THE FLT.

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.