Altitude deviation.

Attributes
ACN	146201
Time
Date	199005
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : oma
State Reference	NE
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : oma
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	departure other enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
ASRS Report	146201
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : student pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

We departed on an instrument training flight at about xx:40 am. WX was 1300 sct, 1800 overcast. On climb out I had my student contact omaha, northeast, approach for an IFR clearance. (We were not using headsets). We were then cleared direct to the omaha VOR and instructed to intercept the localizer for runway 32L. We believed we were cleared to 4000' (the altitude we had filed for). After being level at 4000' for 2-3 mins, we were asked to verify altitude. I verified 4000'. ATC informed us that he had cleared us to 3000', and we had traffic at 10 O'clock and 6 mi. I asked if he would like us to go back to 3000'. He replied 'no, I was about to clear you to 4000''. I believe factors contributing to this occurrence were: hearing the altitude we were expecting to hear (4000') if we were indeed only cleared to 3000'. Not wearing headsets. Cockpit noise and not being able to clearly hear what my student read back to ATC. Student/instrument communication in the cockpit. He was asking me a question when ATC started to read us our clearance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEVIATION.

Narrative: WE DEPARTED ON AN INSTRUMENT TRNING FLT AT ABOUT XX:40 AM. WX WAS 1300 SCT, 1800 OVCST. ON CLB OUT I HAD MY STUDENT CONTACT OMAHA, NE, APCH FOR AN IFR CLRNC. (WE WERE NOT USING HEADSETS). WE WERE THEN CLRED DIRECT TO THE OMAHA VOR AND INSTRUCTED TO INTERCEPT THE LOC FOR RWY 32L. WE BELIEVED WE WERE CLRED TO 4000' (THE ALT WE HAD FILED FOR). AFTER BEING LEVEL AT 4000' FOR 2-3 MINS, WE WERE ASKED TO VERIFY ALT. I VERIFIED 4000'. ATC INFORMED US THAT HE HAD CLRED US TO 3000', AND WE HAD TFC AT 10 O'CLOCK AND 6 MI. I ASKED IF HE WOULD LIKE US TO GO BACK TO 3000'. HE REPLIED 'NO, I WAS ABOUT TO CLR YOU TO 4000''. I BELIEVE FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THIS OCCURRENCE WERE: HEARING THE ALT WE WERE EXPECTING TO HEAR (4000') IF WE WERE INDEED ONLY CLRED TO 3000'. NOT WEARING HEADSETS. COCKPIT NOISE AND NOT BEING ABLE TO CLRLY HEAR WHAT MY STUDENT READ BACK TO ATC. STUDENT/INSTR COM IN THE COCKPIT. HE WAS ASKING ME A QUESTION WHEN ATC STARTED TO READ US OUR CLRNC.

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.