A flight crew climbed above their assigned altitude without clearance near sna.

Attributes
ACN	437144
Time
Date	199905
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sna.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 22000 msl bound upper : 23000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 190 flight time total : 10500 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	437144
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 190 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	437240
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Numerous step climbs and leveloffs. I would swear I heard climb to FL230. I read back 'departing FL200 for FL230.' when nearly level, controller said our clearance was only to FL220. Copilot was off radio, talking to passenger on PA.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A FLC CLBED ABOVE THEIR ASSIGNED ALT WITHOUT CLRNC NEAR SNA.

Narrative: NUMEROUS STEP CLBS AND LEVELOFFS. I WOULD SWEAR I HEARD CLB TO FL230. I READ BACK 'DEPARTING FL200 FOR FL230.' WHEN NEARLY LEVEL, CTLR SAID OUR CLRNC WAS ONLY TO FL220. COPLT WAS OFF RADIO, TALKING TO PAX ON PA.

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.