Narrative:

Upon receiving a clearance to climb to and maintain 6000' a private pilot (in the aircraft with me flying the aircraft) climbed to 7000'. ATC asked 'what altitude were you cleared to and why aren't you at it now?' I replied 'we understood our clearance to be 7000'.' we then descended to 6000'. I knew we were supposed to be at 6000' but I didn't see that the other pilot had gone to 7000' until immediately questioned by ATC. Responsibility for this incident will be with me as I was PIC. However the incident was not all my fault. Responsibility needs to be deligated to who made the mistake also, not just PIC.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA LEVELS 1000' ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: UPON RECEIVING A CLRNC TO CLB TO AND MAINTAIN 6000' A PVT PLT (IN THE ACFT WITH ME FLYING THE ACFT) CLBED TO 7000'. ATC ASKED 'WHAT ALT WERE YOU CLRED TO AND WHY AREN'T YOU AT IT NOW?' I REPLIED 'WE UNDERSTOOD OUR CLRNC TO BE 7000'.' WE THEN DSNDED TO 6000'. I KNEW WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE AT 6000' BUT I DIDN'T SEE THAT THE OTHER PLT HAD GONE TO 7000' UNTIL IMMEDIATELY QUESTIONED BY ATC. RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS INCIDENT WILL BE WITH ME AS I WAS PIC. HOWEVER THE INCIDENT WAS NOT ALL MY FAULT. RESPONSIBILITY NEEDS TO BE DELIGATED TO WHO MADE THE MISTAKE ALSO, NOT JUST PIC.

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.