Pilot on VFR flight to hfd flew incorrect altitude for direction of flight.

Attributes
ACN	456458
Time
Date	199912
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pvd.airport
State Reference	RI
Altitude	msl single value : 5500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pvd.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	departure : vfr enroute : direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 17 flight time total : 512 flight time type : 43
ASRS Report	456458
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

The problem arose when we departed mvy VFR to hfd, a 300 degree course, and due to an error in the thought process an inappropriate altitude of 5500 ft was chosen. Shortly after departure, pvd approach was called and flight following requested. We were squawking mode C, were given a code, radar idented, and continued on course. Some 15 mins or so later we thanked pvd for their help, squawked VFR, descended and landed at hfd. Some time later that evening it dawned on me that I had been at that inappropriate altitude. The question in my mind is why no one watching us on radar queried us about our altitude. This is by no means an attempt to shift responsibility. I'm totally responsible for this error. But it sure would have been nice if someone had mentioned it.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT ON VFR FLT TO HFD FLEW INCORRECT ALT FOR DIRECTION OF FLT.

Narrative: THE PROB AROSE WHEN WE DEPARTED MVY VFR TO HFD, A 300 DEG COURSE, AND DUE TO AN ERROR IN THE THOUGHT PROCESS AN INAPPROPRIATE ALT OF 5500 FT WAS CHOSEN. SHORTLY AFTER DEP, PVD APCH WAS CALLED AND FLT FOLLOWING REQUESTED. WE WERE SQUAWKING MODE C, WERE GIVEN A CODE, RADAR IDENTED, AND CONTINUED ON COURSE. SOME 15 MINS OR SO LATER WE THANKED PVD FOR THEIR HELP, SQUAWKED VFR, DSNDED AND LANDED AT HFD. SOME TIME LATER THAT EVENING IT DAWNED ON ME THAT I HAD BEEN AT THAT INAPPROPRIATE ALT. THE QUESTION IN MY MIND IS WHY NO ONE WATCHING US ON RADAR QUERIED US ABOUT OUR ALT. THIS IS BY NO MEANS AN ATTEMPT TO SHIFT RESPONSIBILITY. I'M TOTALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ERROR. BUT IT SURE WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE IF SOMEONE HAD MENTIONED IT.

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.