Flight was advised by center they were 1000' high. Flight was at assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	108882
Time
Date	198904
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lgc
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 19000 msl bound upper : 20000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zhu
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Transport, High Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 1800
ASRS Report	108882
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation Intra Facility Coordination Failure

Narrative:

Flight departed gulfport, ms, en route to atl. Departure control issued 10000' and to contact ZHU. Center issued us FL200 and FL200 was acknowledged in readback. Upon reaching FL200, ZHU reported that our mode C indicated 1000' high and to verify level at FL190. Center was informed that we were previously issued FL200. Center reply was simply, 'roger.' I have never been issued an incorrect flight level before, and had the error been the flight crew's, ATC would have wanted quite a bit more than a 'roger!'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT WAS ADVISED BY CENTER THEY WERE 1000' HIGH. FLT WAS AT ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: FLT DEPARTED GULFPORT, MS, ENRTE TO ATL. DEP CTL ISSUED 10000' AND TO CONTACT ZHU. CENTER ISSUED US FL200 AND FL200 WAS ACKNOWLEDGED IN READBACK. UPON REACHING FL200, ZHU RPTED THAT OUR MODE C INDICATED 1000' HIGH AND TO VERIFY LEVEL AT FL190. CENTER WAS INFORMED THAT WE WERE PREVIOUSLY ISSUED FL200. CENTER REPLY WAS SIMPLY, 'ROGER.' I HAVE NEVER BEEN ISSUED AN INCORRECT FLT LEVEL BEFORE, AND HAD THE ERROR BEEN THE FLT CREW'S, ATC WOULD HAVE WANTED QUITE A BIT MORE THAN A 'ROGER!'

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.