Narrative:

It was a short flight from rdu-gso. It was the first flight of the day. It was day three of a three day trip. Both days before were X:oo am wake-ups and this one was a X:oo am wake-up. We were ready to get home. Initial clearance was to 9000'. After departure we were (we thought) given 10000' and set that in the altitude reminder. Level at cruise (-10000') gso app asked if we were level yet. We replied 'yes level 10000'.' gso app said we were assigned 9000'. The captain (who was on the radio) said 'you gave us 10000, I read it back 10000'' the controller said 'I'll see if rdu can take you at 10000.' nothing further was made of the incident. As flight engineer I was responsible for multiple duties during this short flight, one of them being ATIS for the arrival airport. As the climb clearance was given, I switched off gso approach frequency on my intercom system so I could better hear the rdu ATIS frequency. I never heard if 9000 or 10000 was correct. Usually I am able to do my assigned tasks, maintain traffic watch, and watch the two guys up front, but sometimes this is nearly impossible, such as on a 15 min flight. Something has to be sacrificed. I decided to skip my cross check of the pilots actions and a possible altitude deviation occurred. Being tired and 'get homeitis' were contributing factors. I was shocked to see what a momentary lapse of professionalism can do to your whole day.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT ALT DEVIATION OVERSHOT DURING CLIMB.

Narrative: IT WAS A SHORT FLT FROM RDU-GSO. IT WAS THE FIRST FLT OF THE DAY. IT WAS DAY THREE OF A THREE DAY TRIP. BOTH DAYS BEFORE WERE X:OO AM WAKE-UPS AND THIS ONE WAS A X:OO AM WAKE-UP. WE WERE READY TO GET HOME. INITIAL CLRNC WAS TO 9000'. AFTER DEP WE WERE (WE THOUGHT) GIVEN 10000' AND SET THAT IN THE ALT REMINDER. LEVEL AT CRUISE (-10000') GSO APP ASKED IF WE WERE LEVEL YET. WE REPLIED 'YES LEVEL 10000'.' GSO APP SAID WE WERE ASSIGNED 9000'. THE CAPT (WHO WAS ON THE RADIO) SAID 'YOU GAVE US 10000, I READ IT BACK 10000'' THE CTLR SAID 'I'LL SEE IF RDU CAN TAKE YOU AT 10000.' NOTHING FURTHER WAS MADE OF THE INCIDENT. AS FE I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MULTIPLE DUTIES DURING THIS SHORT FLT, ONE OF THEM BEING ATIS FOR THE ARR ARPT. AS THE CLB CLRNC WAS GIVEN, I SWITCHED OFF GSO APCH FREQ ON MY INTERCOM SYS SO I COULD BETTER HEAR THE RDU ATIS FREQ. I NEVER HEARD IF 9000 OR 10000 WAS CORRECT. USUALLY I AM ABLE TO DO MY ASSIGNED TASKS, MAINTAIN TFC WATCH, AND WATCH THE TWO GUYS UP FRONT, BUT SOMETIMES THIS IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE, SUCH AS ON A 15 MIN FLT. SOMETHING HAS TO BE SACRIFICED. I DECIDED TO SKIP MY CROSS CHK OF THE PLTS ACTIONS AND A POSSIBLE ALT DEV OCCURRED. BEING TIRED AND 'GET HOMEITIS' WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS. I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE WHAT A MOMENTARY LAPSE OF PROFESSIONALISM CAN DO TO YOUR WHOLE DAY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.