Jump plane pilot exceeds altitude clearance flying above cloud layer.

Attributes
ACN	233160
Time
Date	199301
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ded
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 13500 msl bound upper : 14000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dab
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 3600 flight time type : 1700
ASRS Report	233160
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While flying a load of skydivers in VFR conditions, I reported my climb to 13500 ft to daytona approach. They responded with something to the effect of 'climb to 13500 ft approved, report 1 min prior to drop.' as I reported 1 min prior, they questioned my altitude. I reported 13800 ft and correcting. On my next load, while on jump run (approximately 30 mins later) my altitude again was almost 14000 ft. A thin broken layer had developed and I was attempting to maintain VFR above the cloud. ATC again questioned my altitude and worried that if I could not maintain 13500 ft, jumping would be suspended. As I got to the ground the drop zone manager advised me that ATC had called on the phone to complain about my altdevs. Our LOA with daytona, specifies 13500 ft as the normal altitude for jumping. I did not request a higher altitude, but was VFR. ZJX controls the airspace above 11000 ft and coordinates us with daytona beach approach. I should have warned daytona that I was going to have to climb slightly higher before just doing it, so they could in turn request this from jacksonville. In the future I will pay more attention to altitude and respect the agreements set forth between the drop zone and ATC.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: JUMP PLANE PLT EXCEEDS ALT CLRNC FLYING ABOVE CLOUD LAYER.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING A LOAD OF SKYDIVERS IN VFR CONDITIONS, I RPTED MY CLB TO 13500 FT TO DAYTONA APCH. THEY RESPONDED WITH SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF 'CLB TO 13500 FT APPROVED, RPT 1 MIN PRIOR TO DROP.' AS I RPTED 1 MIN PRIOR, THEY QUESTIONED MY ALT. I RPTED 13800 FT AND CORRECTING. ON MY NEXT LOAD, WHILE ON JUMP RUN (APPROX 30 MINS LATER) MY ALT AGAIN WAS ALMOST 14000 FT. A THIN BROKEN LAYER HAD DEVELOPED AND I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAINTAIN VFR ABOVE THE CLOUD. ATC AGAIN QUESTIONED MY ALT AND WORRIED THAT IF I COULD NOT MAINTAIN 13500 FT, JUMPING WOULD BE SUSPENDED. AS I GOT TO THE GND THE DROP ZONE MGR ADVISED ME THAT ATC HAD CALLED ON THE PHONE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT MY ALTDEVS. OUR LOA WITH DAYTONA, SPECIFIES 13500 FT AS THE NORMAL ALT FOR JUMPING. I DID NOT REQUEST A HIGHER ALT, BUT WAS VFR. ZJX CTLS THE AIRSPACE ABOVE 11000 FT AND COORDINATES US WITH DAYTONA BEACH APCH. I SHOULD HAVE WARNED DAYTONA THAT I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO CLB SLIGHTLY HIGHER BEFORE JUST DOING IT, SO THEY COULD IN TURN REQUEST THIS FROM JACKSONVILLE. IN THE FUTURE I WILL PAY MORE ATTN TO ALT AND RESPECT THE AGREEMENTS SET FORTH BTWN THE DROP ZONE AND ATC.

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.