PA38 pilot climbed above his cleared altitude in fat class C.

Attributes
ACN	530833
Time
Date	200111
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : fat.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : fat.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-38 Tomahawk
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 18 flight time total : 2034 flight time type : 1915
ASRS Report	530833
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert flight crew : returned to assigned altitude none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On departure from fat on a flight to hwd I was assigned an altitude 'at or below 2000 ft.' I was so focused on my requested cruise altitude of 2500 ft, which I had reported to departure control delivery, that I flew to that altitude rather than 2000 ft. The controller then reminded me that he needed me at 2000 when that altitude was assigned. I had previously departed fat (about half an hour earlier) and had stayed at 2000 ft even though cleared to a higher altitude, I had mentally decided not to make that 'mistake' again, but instead I made a real mistake. Sorry.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA38 PLT CLIMBED ABOVE HIS CLRED ALT IN FAT CLASS C.

Narrative: ON DEP FROM FAT ON A FLT TO HWD I WAS ASSIGNED AN ALTITUDE 'AT OR BELOW 2000 FT.' I WAS SO FOCUSED ON MY REQUESTED CRUISE ALT OF 2500 FT, WHICH I HAD RPTED TO DEP CTL DELIVERY, THAT I FLEW TO THAT ALT RATHER THAN 2000 FT. THE CTLR THEN REMINDED ME THAT HE NEEDED ME AT 2000 WHEN THAT ALTITUDE WAS ASSIGNED. I HAD PREVIOUSLY DEPARTED FAT (ABOUT HALF AN HOUR EARLIER) AND HAD STAYED AT 2000 FT EVEN THOUGH CLRED TO A HIGHER ALTITUDE, I HAD MENTALLY DECIDED NOT TO MAKE THAT 'MISTAKE' AGAIN, BUT INSTEAD I MADE A REAL MISTAKE. SORRY.

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.