Altitude deviation altitude excursion.

Attributes
ACN	204048
Time
Date	199203
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dxo airport : 1d2
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dtw
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 2 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 12 flight time total : 950 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	204048
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : became reoriented other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Pilot misinterpreted clearance 'resume normal navigation' to include clearance to final altitude of 6000 ft. Clearance altitude at the time was 4000 ft. Approach communicated error when pilot at 5000 ft and climbing. Requested return to 4000 ft and pilot complied. Contributing factors: a) clearance picked up in the air because not available on ground at mettetal (1d2). Many changes advised in clearance, took a while to identify. B) at time of clearance 'resume normal navigation,' aircraft was already established on detroit 239 degree radial heading toward mizar intersection according to revised flight plan. There was no need for the term used as no change was needed. However, pilot interpreted that a change was required. Mins earlier, was 'cleared to 4000 ft expect 6000 ft in 10 mins.' human performance: 1) pilot could have confirmed by communicating and did not.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV ALT EXCURSION.

Narrative: PLT MISINTERPRETED CLRNC 'RESUME NORMAL NAV' TO INCLUDE CLRNC TO FINAL ALT OF 6000 FT. CLRNC ALT AT THE TIME WAS 4000 FT. APCH COMMUNICATED ERROR WHEN PLT AT 5000 FT AND CLBING. REQUESTED RETURN TO 4000 FT AND PLT COMPLIED. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: A) CLRNC PICKED UP IN THE AIR BECAUSE NOT AVAILABLE ON GND AT METTETAL (1D2). MANY CHANGES ADVISED IN CLRNC, TOOK A WHILE TO IDENT. B) AT TIME OF CLRNC 'RESUME NORMAL NAV,' ACFT WAS ALREADY ESTABLISHED ON DETROIT 239 DEG RADIAL HDG TOWARD MIZAR INTXN ACCORDING TO REVISED FLT PLAN. THERE WAS NO NEED FOR THE TERM USED AS NO CHANGE WAS NEEDED. HOWEVER, PLT INTERPRETED THAT A CHANGE WAS REQUIRED. MINS EARLIER, WAS 'CLRED TO 4000 FT EXPECT 6000 FT IN 10 MINS.' HUMAN PERFORMANCE: 1) PLT COULD HAVE CONFIRMED BY COMMUNICATING AND DID NOT.

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.