Air carrier large transport altitude deviation overshot during climb.

Attributes
ACN	130885
Time
Date	198912
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bae
State Reference	WI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 27000 msl bound upper : 28000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 7500
ASRS Report	130885
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation Operational Deviation other

Narrative:

During climb out from milwaukee en route to oak, aircraft was cleared by ATC to FL270. I was given the altitude with a heading change, and other radio phraseology. I set in FL280 on the altitude setting. I was given another heading change and then read back 'FL280' to the controller. I added the call 'FL280' because I wasn't positive we were cleared to FL280, even though I had it set in the altitude dial. The controller did not query my call of 'FL280,' so I assumed that was our clearance. At 27700' the center asked what our altitude was. I told him '27700, climbing to FL280.' I told him I read back FL280 in our previous transmission. He told us to maintain FL280. Nothing else was said, nor do I thing there was a conflict. Lesson: if there is even the slightest question as to altitude cleared, use 'confirm' in the radio transmission; i.e., 'confirm cleared to FL280,' instead of just saying 'FL280.' confirm would probably have keyed the controller to catch the error.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT ALT DEVIATION OVERSHOT DURING CLIMB.

Narrative: DURING CLBOUT FROM MILWAUKEE ENRTE TO OAK, ACFT WAS CLRED BY ATC TO FL270. I WAS GIVEN THE ALT WITH A HDG CHANGE, AND OTHER RADIO PHRASEOLOGY. I SET IN FL280 ON THE ALT SETTING. I WAS GIVEN ANOTHER HDG CHANGE AND THEN READ BACK 'FL280' TO THE CTLR. I ADDED THE CALL 'FL280' BECAUSE I WASN'T POSITIVE WE WERE CLRED TO FL280, EVEN THOUGH I HAD IT SET IN THE ALT DIAL. THE CTLR DID NOT QUERY MY CALL OF 'FL280,' SO I ASSUMED THAT WAS OUR CLRNC. AT 27700' THE CENTER ASKED WHAT OUR ALT WAS. I TOLD HIM '27700, CLBING TO FL280.' I TOLD HIM I READ BACK FL280 IN OUR PREVIOUS XMISSION. HE TOLD US TO MAINTAIN FL280. NOTHING ELSE WAS SAID, NOR DO I THING THERE WAS A CONFLICT. LESSON: IF THERE IS EVEN THE SLIGHTEST QUESTION AS TO ALT CLRED, USE 'CONFIRM' IN THE RADIO XMISSION; I.E., 'CONFIRM CLRED TO FL280,' INSTEAD OF JUST SAYING 'FL280.' CONFIRM WOULD PROBABLY HAVE KEYED THE CTLR TO CATCH THE ERROR.

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.