Pilot of small aircraft departing msp requested higher altitude assignment. Was cleared to 7000'. Pi...

Attributes
ACN	162582
Time
Date	199011
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : msp
State Reference	MN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : msp
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	departure other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 36 flight time total : 905 flight time type : 750
ASRS Report	162582
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was in msp for work and to have a repair made on the autoplt while at my meeting. As I was to leave, the repair facility handled a situation poorly and it bothered me, and it was on my mind. I pushed it aside and departed msp in good control. My flight plan was to climb to 5000' and remain there to my destination of duluth. As I climbed out IMC and approached 5000' I heard another aircraft report tops at 6000', and since there could have been possible icing in the clouds and it was about to get dark, I requested a change in flight level from 5000 0TO 7000'. As I recall, the controller cleared me to 7000', but told me to 'stay at 5000' for a while.' at this point I must have relaxed and inadvertently continued to climb after being at 5000' for a time (or I misread 6000 to be 5000'). At 6000' I caught it and told the controller were I was and that I was returning to 5000'. He said, 'no problem, continue to 7000'.' when I relaxed after getting the 7000' ok, while climbing to 5000' thoughts of the day and the problem at the FBO occupied my mind. As corrective action I will have to try harder and write all instructions down (as I did). Also, keep those business thoughts out of the mind while flying.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMA DEPARTING MSP REQUESTED HIGHER ALT ASSIGNMENT. WAS CLEARED TO 7000'. PLT UNDERSTOOD STAY AT 5000' FOR A WHILE, BUT STARTED CLIMB. ADVISED CTLR WHO CLEARED CONTINUE TO 7000'.

Narrative: I WAS IN MSP FOR WORK AND TO HAVE A REPAIR MADE ON THE AUTOPLT WHILE AT MY MEETING. AS I WAS TO LEAVE, THE REPAIR FAC HANDLED A SITUATION POORLY AND IT BOTHERED ME, AND IT WAS ON MY MIND. I PUSHED IT ASIDE AND DEPARTED MSP IN GOOD CTL. MY FLT PLAN WAS TO CLB TO 5000' AND REMAIN THERE TO MY DEST OF DULUTH. AS I CLBED OUT IMC AND APCHED 5000' I HEARD ANOTHER ACFT RPT TOPS AT 6000', AND SINCE THERE COULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE ICING IN THE CLOUDS AND IT WAS ABOUT TO GET DARK, I REQUESTED A CHANGE IN FLT LEVEL FROM 5000 0TO 7000'. AS I RECALL, THE CTLR CLRED ME TO 7000', BUT TOLD ME TO 'STAY AT 5000' FOR A WHILE.' AT THIS POINT I MUST HAVE RELAXED AND INADVERTENTLY CONTINUED TO CLB AFTER BEING AT 5000' FOR A TIME (OR I MISREAD 6000 TO BE 5000'). AT 6000' I CAUGHT IT AND TOLD THE CTLR WERE I WAS AND THAT I WAS RETURNING TO 5000'. HE SAID, 'NO PROB, CONTINUE TO 7000'.' WHEN I RELAXED AFTER GETTING THE 7000' OK, WHILE CLBING TO 5000' THOUGHTS OF THE DAY AND THE PROB AT THE FBO OCCUPIED MY MIND. AS CORRECTIVE ACTION I WILL HAVE TO TRY HARDER AND WRITE ALL INSTRUCTIONS DOWN (AS I DID). ALSO, KEEP THOSE BUSINESS THOUGHTS OUT OF THE MIND WHILE FLYING.

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.

Pilot of small aircraft departing msp requested higher altitude assignment. Was cleared to 7000'. Pilot understood stay at 5000' for a while, but started climb. Advised controller who cleared continue to 7000'.