Altitude deviation altitudes excursion.

Attributes
ACN	167744
Time
Date	199101
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lnk
State Reference	NE
Altitude	msl bound lower : 37000 msl bound upper : 37600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	167744
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	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

First officer, PNF, flight den-cid. Last assigned altitude was FL290. ATC reclred flight to FL370. I thought I heard FL390 and read back FL390. I set FL390 in the alert window and announced FL390. Climbing through FL376, ATC asked to what altitude we were climbing. I replied FL390. ATC asked what altitude we were filed for. I rechked the flight plan and stated FL370. ATC then said, cleared to FL370. We descended to FL370. I feel my mistake was seeing '290' just above where I had written '370' when given the new altitude. That, plus the flight #, which for some reason was difficult for me to mouth. I just let myself get caught up with the '9's.' at the time of the incident, we had been assigned heading 070 degrees radar vector to cid, off arwys and no traffic conflict.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEVIATION ALTS EXCURSION.

Narrative: F/O, PNF, FLT DEN-CID. LAST ASSIGNED ALT WAS FL290. ATC RECLRED FLT TO FL370. I THOUGHT I HEARD FL390 AND READ BACK FL390. I SET FL390 IN THE ALERT WINDOW AND ANNOUNCED FL390. CLBING THROUGH FL376, ATC ASKED TO WHAT ALT WE WERE CLBING. I REPLIED FL390. ATC ASKED WHAT ALT WE WERE FILED FOR. I RECHKED THE FLT PLAN AND STATED FL370. ATC THEN SAID, CLRED TO FL370. WE DSNDED TO FL370. I FEEL MY MISTAKE WAS SEEING '290' JUST ABOVE WHERE I HAD WRITTEN '370' WHEN GIVEN THE NEW ALT. THAT, PLUS THE FLT #, WHICH FOR SOME REASON WAS DIFFICULT FOR ME TO MOUTH. I JUST LET MYSELF GET CAUGHT UP WITH THE '9'S.' AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, WE HAD BEEN ASSIGNED HDG 070 DEGS RADAR VECTOR TO CID, OFF ARWYS AND NO TFC CONFLICT.

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.