<< >> NASA ASRS Report 389472, December 1997

Flight crew of learjet on test flight mishears the climb clearance and climbs above assigned altitude. Readback indicated the altitude they thought they heard.

Attributes
ACN	389472
Time
Date	199712
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : jnc
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 19000 msl bound upper : 22000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv tower : cvg
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Gates Learjet Corp Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	389472
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

As PIC in our learjet I was performing a maintenance test flight after installation of 2 new engines. I filed an IFR flight plan up to FL430 out to a fix and back to grand junction specifying maintenance test flight. A fellow employee with a multi engine rating was sic for the test flight. After departing gjt, 2 mechanics were trend monitoring the engine instruments and requesting various power changes in the climb. I heard center clear us to the next altitude which sounded to both the sic and myself as FL430. The sic read back to center, 'cleared to FL430.' I questioned him as to the altitude, the sic, because we were currently climbing through approximately 14000 ft. He assured me the controller said FL430. At around 22000 ft ATC asked our altitude, we gave it to him and he stated we were only cleared to FL190, I then responded we heard FL430 and read it back to ATC. I have never busted an altitude in 23 yrs of flying and don't believe we (I) was in violation this time.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF LEARJET ON TEST FLT MISHEARS THE CLB CLRNC AND CLBS ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT. READBACK INDICATED THE ALT THEY THOUGHT THEY HEARD.

Narrative: AS PIC IN OUR LEARJET I WAS PERFORMING A MAINT TEST FLT AFTER INSTALLATION OF 2 NEW ENGS. I FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN UP TO FL430 OUT TO A FIX AND BACK TO GRAND JUNCTION SPECIFYING MAINT TEST FLT. A FELLOW EMPLOYEE WITH A MULTI ENG RATING WAS SIC FOR THE TEST FLT. AFTER DEPARTING GJT, 2 MECHS WERE TREND MONITORING THE ENG INSTS AND REQUESTING VARIOUS PWR CHANGES IN THE CLB. I HEARD CTR CLR US TO THE NEXT ALT WHICH SOUNDED TO BOTH THE SIC AND MYSELF AS FL430. THE SIC READ BACK TO CTR, 'CLRED TO FL430.' I QUESTIONED HIM AS TO THE ALT, THE SIC, BECAUSE WE WERE CURRENTLY CLBING THROUGH APPROX 14000 FT. HE ASSURED ME THE CTLR SAID FL430. AT AROUND 22000 FT ATC ASKED OUR ALT, WE GAVE IT TO HIM AND HE STATED WE WERE ONLY CLRED TO FL190, I THEN RESPONDED WE HEARD FL430 AND READ IT BACK TO ATC. I HAVE NEVER BUSTED AN ALT IN 23 YRS OF FLYING AND DON'T BELIEVE WE (I) WAS IN VIOLATION THIS TIME.

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.