Altitude deviation, excursion from assigned.

Attributes
ACN	123540
Time
Date	198909
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : teb
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	departure other departure sid : sid enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 85 flight time total : 3700 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	123540
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departure off runway 24 teb calls for runway heading to 1500', then turn to 280 degrees until 015 degrees bearing on NDB, then climb to 3000'. On earlier flight we departed same runway as soon as airborne controller gave different heading than described in departure, with climb to 3000'. On evening departure, I was flying this leg as first officer. After takeoff we were given heading of 270 degrees by controller, and assumed since we were not following departure off teb because assigned heading differs from that described in departure, we were allowed to climb to 3000' as stated. Because it states heading of 280 degrees until 015 degree bearing, should we have stayed at 1500' on 270 degree heading until 015 degree bearing, then climbed to 3000'? Anyway, after assigned heading of 270 degrees, we started climb to 3000' and were told to descend to 1500' by controller, after which he then changed instructions to climb to 11000' before we could even get back to 1500'. What to do if we were assigned different heading but not altitude was confusing. Also, when heading given, captain said, 'ok, up to 3000',' and I followed instructions assuming as he did that 1500' restriction was no longer valid. This should be clarified either in written departure procedure or by controller when headings differ from departure plate.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEVIATION, EXCURSION FROM ASSIGNED.

Narrative: DEP OFF RWY 24 TEB CALLS FOR RWY HDG TO 1500', THEN TURN TO 280 DEGS UNTIL 015 DEGS BEARING ON NDB, THEN CLB TO 3000'. ON EARLIER FLT WE DEPARTED SAME RWY AS SOON AS AIRBORNE CTLR GAVE DIFFERENT HDG THAN DESCRIBED IN DEP, WITH CLB TO 3000'. ON EVENING DEP, I WAS FLYING THIS LEG AS F/O. AFTER TKOF WE WERE GIVEN HDG OF 270 DEGS BY CTLR, AND ASSUMED SINCE WE WERE NOT FOLLOWING DEP OFF TEB BECAUSE ASSIGNED HDG DIFFERS FROM THAT DESCRIBED IN DEP, WE WERE ALLOWED TO CLB TO 3000' AS STATED. BECAUSE IT STATES HDG OF 280 DEGS UNTIL 015 DEG BEARING, SHOULD WE HAVE STAYED AT 1500' ON 270 DEG HDG UNTIL 015 DEG BEARING, THEN CLBED TO 3000'? ANYWAY, AFTER ASSIGNED HDG OF 270 DEGS, WE STARTED CLB TO 3000' AND WERE TOLD TO DSND TO 1500' BY CTLR, AFTER WHICH HE THEN CHANGED INSTRUCTIONS TO CLB TO 11000' BEFORE WE COULD EVEN GET BACK TO 1500'. WHAT TO DO IF WE WERE ASSIGNED DIFFERENT HDG BUT NOT ALT WAS CONFUSING. ALSO, WHEN HDG GIVEN, CAPT SAID, 'OK, UP TO 3000',' AND I FOLLOWED INSTRUCTIONS ASSUMING AS HE DID THAT 1500' RESTRICTION WAS NO LONGER VALID. THIS SHOULD BE CLARIFIED EITHER IN WRITTEN DEP PROC OR BY CTLR WHEN HDGS DIFFER FROM DEP PLATE.

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.