Altitude deviation.

Attributes
ACN	145594
Time
Date	199005
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sna
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sna tower : sna
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : initial climbout : intermediate altitude climbout : takeoff
Route In Use	departure other enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	145594
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I took off VFR from sna. The clearance was received on the ground and read back to maintain VFR at or below 3000'. Climbing out from runway 19R I was asked by the tower, 'confirm you are flying the musel 5 departure.' I replied, 'negative.' she then said, 'turn left, heading 175 degrees, contact departure.' I DOD so and started looking in the commercial kit for the departure. The aircraft was light, and by the time I retrieved the departure plate, I had already climbed through 3000', closer to 4000'. The controller asked my altitude and advised me of the situation. I asked if he wanted me back to 3000', but he said no, I could continue to 4500'. Although basically I should not have climbed above 3000', I believe there was some confusion with the controllers re: my routing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEVIATION.

Narrative: I TOOK OFF VFR FROM SNA. THE CLRNC WAS RECEIVED ON THE GND AND READ BACK TO MAINTAIN VFR AT OR BELOW 3000'. CLBING OUT FROM RWY 19R I WAS ASKED BY THE TWR, 'CONFIRM YOU ARE FLYING THE MUSEL 5 DEP.' I REPLIED, 'NEGATIVE.' SHE THEN SAID, 'TURN LEFT, HDG 175 DEGS, CONTACT DEP.' I DOD SO AND STARTED LOOKING IN THE COMMERCIAL KIT FOR THE DEP. THE ACFT WAS LIGHT, AND BY THE TIME I RETRIEVED THE DEP PLATE, I HAD ALREADY CLBED THROUGH 3000', CLOSER TO 4000'. THE CTLR ASKED MY ALT AND ADVISED ME OF THE SITUATION. I ASKED IF HE WANTED ME BACK TO 3000', BUT HE SAID NO, I COULD CONTINUE TO 4500'. ALTHOUGH BASICALLY I SHOULD NOT HAVE CLBED ABOVE 3000', I BELIEVE THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION WITH THE CTLRS RE: MY ROUTING.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.