Air carrier medium large transport altitude excursion.

Attributes
ACN	97622
Time
Date	198811
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pdz airport : ont
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ont
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure sid : sid
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 140 flight time total : 3600 flight time type : 140
ASRS Report	97622
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On departure ont departure control advised to climb to 11000' (from level 7000') and contact departure on 134.0. The first officer read back 'out of 7000 for 11000 and departure 134.0.' upon contact of the second departure controller we advised, 'out of 7500 for 11000.' departure control advised, 'roger, maintain 7000.' after calling that we were at 7800' now and climbing to 11000', we advised we were going back to 7000'. Departure gave us 8000' and checked with first departure controller of our cleared altitude. The first controller advised he had not cleared us to 11000'. Departure control said, 'it was not a problem, but our reference we were not cleared to the new altitude.' it is my opinion that only the voice tape would clear up the final outcome, but contributing factors were several conflicting VFR traffic and many calls to other aircraft. The controller was quite busy.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG ALT EXCURSION.

Narrative: ON DEP ONT DEP CTL ADVISED TO CLB TO 11000' (FROM LEVEL 7000') AND CONTACT DEP ON 134.0. THE F/O READ BACK 'OUT OF 7000 FOR 11000 AND DEP 134.0.' UPON CONTACT OF THE SECOND DEP CTLR WE ADVISED, 'OUT OF 7500 FOR 11000.' DEP CTL ADVISED, 'ROGER, MAINTAIN 7000.' AFTER CALLING THAT WE WERE AT 7800' NOW AND CLBING TO 11000', WE ADVISED WE WERE GOING BACK TO 7000'. DEP GAVE US 8000' AND CHKED WITH FIRST DEP CTLR OF OUR CLRED ALT. THE FIRST CTLR ADVISED HE HAD NOT CLRED US TO 11000'. DEP CTL SAID, 'IT WAS NOT A PROB, BUT OUR REF WE WERE NOT CLRED TO THE NEW ALT.' IT IS MY OPINION THAT ONLY THE VOICE TAPE WOULD CLEAR UP THE FINAL OUTCOME, BUT CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE SEVERAL CONFLICTING VFR TFC AND MANY CALLS TO OTHER ACFT. THE CTLR WAS QUITE BUSY.

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.