On initial climb, small aircraft levels off at 600' MSL versus 1600' MSL.

Attributes
ACN	166833
Time
Date	199101
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : srq
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 600 msl bound upper : 1600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : tpa tower : ewr
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 1600 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	166833
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After takeoff from sarasota I was to climb to 1600' MSL. Instead I climbed to 600' and told approach I was at 1600'. My transponder even said 600' but I insisted I was at 1600'. They told me to turn altitude reporting off and then I received a clearance to climb to 4000'. As I went through 1000' I realized my error. I should have noticed the wrong reading of the altimeter but didn't as all of my flying is around 1000' MSL takeoffs. Also I should have noticed how low I was to the ground.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ON INITIAL CLIMB, SMA LEVELS OFF AT 600' MSL VERSUS 1600' MSL.

Narrative: AFTER TKOF FROM SARASOTA I WAS TO CLB TO 1600' MSL. INSTEAD I CLBED TO 600' AND TOLD APCH I WAS AT 1600'. MY XPONDER EVEN SAID 600' BUT I INSISTED I WAS AT 1600'. THEY TOLD ME TO TURN ALT RPTING OFF AND THEN I RECEIVED A CLRNC TO CLB TO 4000'. AS I WENT THROUGH 1000' I REALIZED MY ERROR. I SHOULD HAVE NOTICED THE WRONG READING OF THE ALTIMETER BUT DIDN'T AS ALL OF MY FLYING IS AROUND 1000' MSL TKOFS. ALSO I SHOULD HAVE NOTICED HOW LOW I WAS TO THE GND.

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.