Flight crew of medium large transport allegedly overshot altitude on climb.

Attributes
ACN	121140
Time
Date	198908
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ptw
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 17000 msl bound upper : 19000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 260 flight time total : 30000
ASRS Report	121140
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 220
ASRS Report	121315
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation

Narrative:

Departure control (ny) cleared us to 17000' on heading 270 degrees, changed frequency to ZNY frequency 134.6. A clearance was issued to heading 270 degrees to intercept the pottstown 059 degree right, climb to FL280. I read the clearance back and asked for verification. The controller responded that it was correct. Climbing through FL190, the controller asked if we were level 17000'. I said 'no, we were cleared to 280 and you confirmed it.' the controller then said to descend to 17000'. When I reported level 17000', the controller gave us a frequency change. The next controller cleared us to FL280.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF MLG ALLEGEDLY OVERSHOT ALT ON CLIMB.

Narrative: DEP CTL (NY) CLRED US TO 17000' ON HDG 270 DEGS, CHANGED FREQ TO ZNY FREQ 134.6. A CLRNC WAS ISSUED TO HDG 270 DEGS TO INTERCEPT THE POTTSTOWN 059 DEG R, CLB TO FL280. I READ THE CLRNC BACK AND ASKED FOR VERIFICATION. THE CTLR RESPONDED THAT IT WAS CORRECT. CLBING THROUGH FL190, THE CTLR ASKED IF WE WERE LEVEL 17000'. I SAID 'NO, WE WERE CLRED TO 280 AND YOU CONFIRMED IT.' THE CTLR THEN SAID TO DSND TO 17000'. WHEN I RPTED LEVEL 17000', THE CTLR GAVE US A FREQ CHANGE. THE NEXT CTLR CLRED US TO FL280.

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.