Narrative:

The PNF took the clearance from medford ground control on an IFR flight between medford airport and crescent city, ca, airport. The PNF set the altitude alerter to 11000 ft for the wbound flight. Through 10500 ft MSL cascade approach asked what our desired altitude for cruise was and the PNF replied 11000 ft. Approach asked what our clearance altitude was and the PNF looked at the written clearance and discovered it was 10000 ft. This was relayed to approach and a descent began from, by now, 10700 ft. We leveled off at 10000 ft and the remainder of the flight continued without incident. As the PF, I needed to pay more attention to not only the routing but also altitudes cleared to. I usually do but not this time. Also, the 11000 ft for a west course is not normal and that needed to be clarified with the PNF.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF AIR AMBULANCE SMT CLBS ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT AND IS PROMPTED BY ATC TO LOOK AT THE ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: THE PNF TOOK THE CLRNC FROM MEDFORD GND CTL ON AN IFR FLT BTWN MEDFORD ARPT AND CRESCENT CITY, CA, ARPT. THE PNF SET THE ALT ALERTER TO 11000 FT FOR THE WBOUND FLT. THROUGH 10500 FT MSL CASCADE APCH ASKED WHAT OUR DESIRED ALT FOR CRUISE WAS AND THE PNF REPLIED 11000 FT. APCH ASKED WHAT OUR CLRNC ALT WAS AND THE PNF LOOKED AT THE WRITTEN CLRNC AND DISCOVERED IT WAS 10000 FT. THIS WAS RELAYED TO APCH AND A DSCNT BEGAN FROM, BY NOW, 10700 FT. WE LEVELED OFF AT 10000 FT AND THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT CONTINUED WITHOUT INCIDENT. AS THE PF, I NEEDED TO PAY MORE ATTN TO NOT ONLY THE ROUTING BUT ALSO ALTS CLRED TO. I USUALLY DO BUT NOT THIS TIME. ALSO, THE 11000 FT FOR A W COURSE IS NOT NORMAL AND THAT NEEDED TO BE CLARIFIED WITH THE PNF.

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.