Altimeter presentation is read incorrectly leading to an overshoot of altitude.

Attributes
ACN	566552
Time
Date	200211
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lnr.airport
State Reference	NE
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4700 msl bound upper : 5700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : lnk.tracon
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 2 Eng, Retractable Gear
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude climbout : vacating altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 11500 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	566552
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I misread the altimeter. I was assigned 5000 ft. I thought I was getting ready to level off at 5000 ft and departure asked what altitude I was climbing to. I realized I was at 5700 ft instead of 4700 ft. This altimeter is difficult to tell sometimes what the altitude is, because the 1000 ft indicators are in a window to the left. No excuse. I simply looked at it wrong. I know it is difficult to read, so I should have been more alert. I discovered (realized) I was at the wrong altitude. I immediately descended to 5000 ft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTIMETER PRESENTATION IS READ INCORRECTLY LEADING TO AN OVERSHOOT OF ALT.

Narrative: I MISREAD THE ALTIMETER. I WAS ASSIGNED 5000 FT. I THOUGHT I WAS GETTING READY TO LEVEL OFF AT 5000 FT AND DEP ASKED WHAT ALT I WAS CLBING TO. I REALIZED I WAS AT 5700 FT INSTEAD OF 4700 FT. THIS ALTIMETER IS DIFFICULT TO TELL SOMETIMES WHAT THE ALT IS, BECAUSE THE 1000 FT INDICATORS ARE IN A WINDOW TO THE L. NO EXCUSE. I SIMPLY LOOKED AT IT WRONG. I KNOW IT IS DIFFICULT TO READ, SO I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE ALERT. I DISCOVERED (REALIZED) I WAS AT THE WRONG ALT. I IMMEDIATELY DSNDED TO 5000 FT.

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.