Narrative:

First officer was flying and I (PNF) was working the radios. After takeoff and during climb out, we were on dtw departure control frequency 132.02 and were on an assigned heading of 210 degrees magnetic and cleared to climb to 13000 ft MSL. Climbing through approximately 11000 ft, dtw departure said 'air carrier XXX, climb to FL230 and contact ZOB on 119.95.' I read the instructions back and changed to frequency 119.95. On initial contact, I said 'ZOB, air carrier XXX is with you, climbing through 12500 ft for FL230.' ZOB said 'air carrier XXX, you have traffic at X O'clock level at 14000 ft.' the first officer and I agreed to start to level off and verify the climb instructions. I then asked 'ZOB, verify XXX is cleared to FL230.' ZOB said 'negative air carrier XXX, maintain 13000 ft.' although we had started to level off, due to our climb rate approximately 2500 FPM, we overshot and ascended to 13400 ft and immediately descended back down to 13000 ft. ZOB asked us to 'verify level at 13000 ft.' we did. We then had a discussion with ZOB and told them we thought we had been cleared to FL230 by dtw departure on 132.02. After this discussion, the first officer and I both realized we must have misunderstood dtw departure as departure control does not control the airspace up to FL230. Later in the flight, ZID told us we were to call dtw departure upon arrival in msy. Upon arrival in msy, I called dtw departure and talked with controller. The controller said there was nothing on the computer or log for air carrier XXX. However, I did review the incident with him. Although we did not listen to any tapes, the controller said I probably misunderstood the controller and the instructions were probably to 'turn to a 230 degree heading' versus 'climb to FL230' as they do not own airspace above 13000 ft. Without listening to tapes and from ZOB's reaction, I must assume I misunderstood the instructions.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF DC9-30 OVERSHOT ASSIGNED ALT AFTER SOME CONFUSION AS TO THE ORIGINAL ALT CLRNC BY ZOB DEPARTING DTW.

Narrative: FO WAS FLYING AND I (PNF) WAS WORKING THE RADIOS. AFTER TKOF AND DURING CLBOUT, WE WERE ON DTW DEP CTL FREQ 132.02 AND WERE ON AN ASSIGNED HDG OF 210 DEGS MAGNETIC AND CLRED TO CLB TO 13000 FT MSL. CLBING THROUGH APPROX 11000 FT, DTW DEP SAID 'ACR XXX, CLB TO FL230 AND CONTACT ZOB ON 119.95.' I READ THE INSTRUCTIONS BACK AND CHANGED TO FREQ 119.95. ON INITIAL CONTACT, I SAID 'ZOB, ACR XXX IS WITH YOU, CLBING THROUGH 12500 FT FOR FL230.' ZOB SAID 'ACR XXX, YOU HAVE TFC AT X O'CLOCK LEVEL AT 14000 FT.' THE FO AND I AGREED TO START TO LEVEL OFF AND VERIFY THE CLB INSTRUCTIONS. I THEN ASKED 'ZOB, VERIFY XXX IS CLRED TO FL230.' ZOB SAID 'NEGATIVE ACR XXX, MAINTAIN 13000 FT.' ALTHOUGH WE HAD STARTED TO LEVEL OFF, DUE TO OUR CLB RATE APPROX 2500 FPM, WE OVERSHOT AND ASCENDED TO 13400 FT AND IMMEDIATELY DSNDED BACK DOWN TO 13000 FT. ZOB ASKED US TO 'VERIFY LEVEL AT 13000 FT.' WE DID. WE THEN HAD A DISCUSSION WITH ZOB AND TOLD THEM WE THOUGHT WE HAD BEEN CLRED TO FL230 BY DTW DEP ON 132.02. AFTER THIS DISCUSSION, THE FO AND I BOTH REALIZED WE MUST HAVE MISUNDERSTOOD DTW DEP AS DEP CTL DOES NOT CTL THE AIRSPACE UP TO FL230. LATER IN THE FLT, ZID TOLD US WE WERE TO CALL DTW DEP UPON ARR IN MSY. UPON ARR IN MSY, I CALLED DTW DEP AND TALKED WITH CTLR. THE CTLR SAID THERE WAS NOTHING ON THE COMPUTER OR LOG FOR ACR XXX. HOWEVER, I DID REVIEW THE INCIDENT WITH HIM. ALTHOUGH WE DID NOT LISTEN TO ANY TAPES, THE CTLR SAID I PROBABLY MISUNDERSTOOD THE CTLR AND THE INSTRUCTIONS WERE PROBABLY TO 'TURN TO A 230 DEG HDG' VERSUS 'CLB TO FL230' AS THEY DO NOT OWN AIRSPACE ABOVE 13000 FT. WITHOUT LISTENING TO TAPES AND FROM ZOB'S REACTION, I MUST ASSUME I MISUNDERSTOOD THE INSTRUCTIONS.

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.