A widebody transport crew, departing mem, overshot ATC's tardy amended altitude.

Attributes
ACN	540888
Time
Date	200203
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mem.airport
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9000 msl bound upper : 9700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mem.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 9000
ASRS Report	540888
Person 2
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb other other : 3
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were cleared to 16000 ft, in a right turn to 360 degrees. When passing 9000 ft/heading 270 degrees, our rate of climb was in excess of 3000 FPM. We were given clearance to maintain 9000 ft and heading 330 degrees. We read back confirmation of clearance and said we would return to 9000 ft. Our altitude was 9700 ft by the time the climb was stopped and descent was initiated. We needed the clearance to stop climb at 9000 ft much earlier.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A WDB CREW, DEPARTING MEM, OVERSHOT ATC'S TARDY AMENDED ALT.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED TO 16000 FT, IN A R TURN TO 360 DEGS. WHEN PASSING 9000 FT/HEADING 270 DEGS, OUR RATE OF CLB WAS IN EXCESS OF 3000 FPM. WE WERE GIVEN CLRNC TO MAINTAIN 9000 FT AND HEADING 330 DEGS. WE READ BACK CONFIRMATION OF CLRNC AND SAID WE WOULD RETURN TO 9000 FT. OUR ALT WAS 9700 FT BY THE TIME THE CLB WAS STOPPED AND DSCNT WAS INITIATED. WE NEEDED THE CLRNC TO STOP CLB AT 9000 FT MUCH EARLIER.

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.