Pilot of small aircraft climbed to and cruised at wrong altitude for direction of VFR flight.

Attributes
ACN	108432
Time
Date	198904
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sra
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : tpa tower : azo
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 1700 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	108432
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was told by controller to circumnav sarasota bradenton (sra) air traffic area to west by 5 miles. I inquired if I could continue my heading if I climbed higher. He told me I could if I was at 4500' or higher. I climbed to 4500' and continued on my flight from pie to fmy. The only thing was that I should have been at an odd thousand altitude plus 500' on a magnetic course of 150 not 4500. I misinterpreted the controller's instructions.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMA CLIMBED TO AND CRUISED AT WRONG ALT FOR DIRECTION OF VFR FLT.

Narrative: I WAS TOLD BY CTLR TO CIRCUMNAV SARASOTA BRADENTON (SRA) ATA TO WEST BY 5 MILES. I INQUIRED IF I COULD CONTINUE MY HDG IF I CLIMBED HIGHER. HE TOLD ME I COULD IF I WAS AT 4500' OR HIGHER. I CLIMBED TO 4500' AND CONTINUED ON MY FLT FROM PIE TO FMY. THE ONLY THING WAS THAT I SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT AN ODD THOUSAND ALT PLUS 500' ON A MAGNETIC COURSE OF 150 NOT 4500. I MISINTERPRETED THE CTLR'S INSTRUCTIONS.

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.