BE55 pilot climbs above cleared altitude to remain clear of clouds.

Attributes
ACN	441883
Time
Date	199907
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : srq.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1600 msl bound upper : 1800
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : srq.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Baron 55/Cochise
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure : on vectors departure other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 5 flight time total : 1050 flight time type : 120
ASRS Report	441883
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited adverse environment
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departed runway 14 on ATC clearance heading 220 degrees to maintain 1600 ft. Received turn to 270 degrees and climb to maintain VFR on top of severe broken layer 900 ft bases, 1700 ft tops. At 1800 ft was VFR on top, assigned altitude was 1600 ft. Told tower I was above assigned altitude. Was told to turn right 090 degrees and maintain VFR at 1600 ft, turned over to departure and was immediately cleared to 2500 ft. Everything worked out fine -- no conflicts with other traffic. ATC said deviation was no problem. Cloud tops were 1700 ft -- impossible to maintain VFR at 1600 ft. Malfunctioning HSI was a contributing factor, a distraction.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BE55 PLT CLBS ABOVE CLRED ALT TO REMAIN CLR OF CLOUDS.

Narrative: DEPARTED RWY 14 ON ATC CLRNC HDG 220 DEGS TO MAINTAIN 1600 FT. RECEIVED TURN TO 270 DEGS AND CLB TO MAINTAIN VFR ON TOP OF SEVERE BROKEN LAYER 900 FT BASES, 1700 FT TOPS. AT 1800 FT WAS VFR ON TOP, ASSIGNED ALT WAS 1600 FT. TOLD TWR I WAS ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT. WAS TOLD TO TURN R 090 DEGS AND MAINTAIN VFR AT 1600 FT, TURNED OVER TO DEP AND WAS IMMEDIATELY CLRED TO 2500 FT. EVERYTHING WORKED OUT FINE -- NO CONFLICTS WITH OTHER TFC. ATC SAID DEV WAS NO PROB. CLOUD TOPS WERE 1700 FT -- IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN VFR AT 1600 FT. MALFUNCTIONING HSI WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR, A DISTR.

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.