Jetstream 32 cleared to climb to 12000 ft. Captain mistakenly entered 13000 ft in the altitude alert...

Attributes
ACN	350070
Time
Date	199610
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : cgi
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 13000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Jetstream 32
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 230 flight time total : 5700 flight time type : 212
ASRS Report	350070
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

ZME cleared us to climb and maintain 12000 ft MSL. I thought I set in 12000 ft in the altitude alerter, but had set in 13000 ft. First officer didn't respond to my 12000 ft set call and didn't notice that I had set in 13000 ft either. After what I would estimate was a couple of mins cruising at 13000 ft, the ZME controller asked us our altitude and I stated 13000 ft. After a min or so, the controller, probably figuring that I didn't get the hint, asked us our altitude again. Again I said 13000 ft but then realized 13000 ft was the wrong altitude for direction of flight, and stated 'heading back down to 12000 ft.' the ZME controller told us to stay there and he would see if ZKC would take us at that altitude, which ZKC did. The ZME controller said nothing more about our mistake. How did the problem arise? 1) I was very tired after having been on a reduced rest overnight (8 hours rest). 2) I did not make my first officer verify the altitude given in the clearance with what I put in the altitude alerter. 3) my first officer did not look at or read back the altitude I put in the altitude alerter.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: JETSTREAM 32 CLRED TO CLB TO 12000 FT. CAPT MISTAKENLY ENTERED 13000 FT IN THE ALT ALERTER.

Narrative: ZME CLRED US TO CLB AND MAINTAIN 12000 FT MSL. I THOUGHT I SET IN 12000 FT IN THE ALT ALERTER, BUT HAD SET IN 13000 FT. FO DIDN'T RESPOND TO MY 12000 FT SET CALL AND DIDN'T NOTICE THAT I HAD SET IN 13000 FT EITHER. AFTER WHAT I WOULD ESTIMATE WAS A COUPLE OF MINS CRUISING AT 13000 FT, THE ZME CTLR ASKED US OUR ALT AND I STATED 13000 FT. AFTER A MIN OR SO, THE CTLR, PROBABLY FIGURING THAT I DIDN'T GET THE HINT, ASKED US OUR ALT AGAIN. AGAIN I SAID 13000 FT BUT THEN REALIZED 13000 FT WAS THE WRONG ALT FOR DIRECTION OF FLT, AND STATED 'HDG BACK DOWN TO 12000 FT.' THE ZME CTLR TOLD US TO STAY THERE AND HE WOULD SEE IF ZKC WOULD TAKE US AT THAT ALT, WHICH ZKC DID. THE ZME CTLR SAID NOTHING MORE ABOUT OUR MISTAKE. HOW DID THE PROB ARISE? 1) I WAS VERY TIRED AFTER HAVING BEEN ON A REDUCED REST OVERNIGHT (8 HRS REST). 2) I DID NOT MAKE MY FO VERIFY THE ALT GIVEN IN THE CLRNC WITH WHAT I PUT IN THE ALT ALERTER. 3) MY FO DID NOT LOOK AT OR READ BACK THE ALT I PUT IN THE ALT ALERTER.

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.

Jetstream 32 cleared to climb to 12000 ft. Captain mistakenly entered 13000 ft in the altitude alerter.