Flight crew of a 4 engine widebody transport during high altitude cruise climbed to higher clearance altitude before the specified time resulting in ATC intervention and return to prior altitude. Flight crew complain that clrncs should not be given until they are needed to help prevent this type of mistake.

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Attributes
ACN	382400
Time
Date	199710
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : akl
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : nzzo
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : pacific
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	other other : other pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 8100 flight time type : 3180
ASRS Report	382400
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We received a fans message to climb to FL330 (we were at FL310). The captain printed the message, verified the plane number and flight number but somehow missed the phrase 'at XA40Z.' we climbed to XA28Z and reported level at FL330. ATC advised us to return to FL310 which we immediately did. This problem could be avoided if conditional clrncs were not given. Just give us a clearance when we are able to comply.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF A 4 ENG WDB DURING HIGH ALT CRUISE CLBED TO HIGHER CLRNC ALT BEFORE THE SPECIFIED TIME RESULTING IN ATC INTERVENTION AND RETURN TO PRIOR ALT. FLC COMPLAIN THAT CLRNCS SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN UNTIL THEY ARE NEEDED TO HELP PREVENT THIS TYPE OF MISTAKE.

Narrative: WE RECEIVED A FANS MESSAGE TO CLB TO FL330 (WE WERE AT FL310). THE CAPT PRINTED THE MESSAGE, VERIFIED THE PLANE NUMBER AND FLT NUMBER BUT SOMEHOW MISSED THE PHRASE 'AT XA40Z.' WE CLBED TO XA28Z AND RPTED LEVEL AT FL330. ATC ADVISED US TO RETURN TO FL310 WHICH WE IMMEDIATELY DID. THIS PROB COULD BE AVOIDED IF CONDITIONAL CLRNCS WERE NOT GIVEN. JUST GIVE US A CLRNC WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO COMPLY.

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.