Pilot climbed through 2000' altitude restriction. Pilot deviation.

Attributes
ACN	120443
Time
Date	198908
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sfo
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bay tower : sfo
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 other 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 : 280 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	120443
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	120442
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On departure (eugen 4 departure), I felt after reading the departure terminology for runway 28L/right (climb via san francisco R281, after passing the 6 DME fix and reaching 2000', turn left, etc) meant we should be at least 2000' by 6 DME or above, not 2000' or below. Our clearance from clearance delivery was to climb to 11000'. As we were climbing through 2000' looking for 6 DME the controller cleared us to 11000'. We thought that strange, since we felt we were already cleared to 11000'. Upon further examination of the departure profile we noticed the 2000' presentation at 6 DME, which is why we're writing this narrative to you. We feel the working should be more clear and not leave room for misinterp, ie, climb to and maintain 2000' until reaching 6 DME, then... Supplemental information from acn 120442: eugen 4 departure runway 28 sfo. I understand narrative to mean at 6 DME and a minimum of 2000', a left turn is started to intercept the sau 168 degree right. Departure control expects us to maintain 2000' until the 6 DME. The picture shows 2000' at the 6 DME--no at, at or above, at or below. This needs better narrative if 2000' is an at altitude at the 6 DME.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT CLIMBED THROUGH 2000' ALT RESTRICTION. PLT DEVIATION.

Narrative: ON DEP (EUGEN 4 DEP), I FELT AFTER READING THE DEP TERMINOLOGY FOR RWY 28L/R (CLB VIA SAN FRANCISCO R281, AFTER PASSING THE 6 DME FIX AND REACHING 2000', TURN LEFT, ETC) MEANT WE SHOULD BE AT LEAST 2000' BY 6 DME OR ABOVE, NOT 2000' OR BELOW. OUR CLRNC FROM CLRNC DELIVERY WAS TO CLB TO 11000'. AS WE WERE CLBING THROUGH 2000' LOOKING FOR 6 DME THE CTLR CLRED US TO 11000'. WE THOUGHT THAT STRANGE, SINCE WE FELT WE WERE ALREADY CLRED TO 11000'. UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION OF THE DEP PROFILE WE NOTICED THE 2000' PRESENTATION AT 6 DME, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE WRITING THIS NARRATIVE TO YOU. WE FEEL THE WORKING SHOULD BE MORE CLEAR AND NOT LEAVE ROOM FOR MISINTERP, IE, CLB TO AND MAINTAIN 2000' UNTIL REACHING 6 DME, THEN... SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 120442: EUGEN 4 DEP RWY 28 SFO. I UNDERSTAND NARRATIVE TO MEAN AT 6 DME AND A MINIMUM OF 2000', A LEFT TURN IS STARTED TO INTERCEPT THE SAU 168 DEG R. DEP CTL EXPECTS US TO MAINTAIN 2000' UNTIL THE 6 DME. THE PICTURE SHOWS 2000' AT THE 6 DME--NO AT, AT OR ABOVE, AT OR BELOW. THIS NEEDS BETTER NARRATIVE IF 2000' IS AN AT ALT AT THE 6 DME.

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.