Narrative:

ATIS information was obtained calling runway 4L/right for landing/departing traffic. The SID calls for climb on 060 degree heading until crossing iewr (108.7) ILS 4 DME, then left to heading 290 degrees, maintain 2500 ft. ATC en route clearance was received via ACARS. The takeoff clearance stated 'ewr 4 SID except at 2 DME turn heading 220 degrees, maintain 2500 ft, expect requested altitude 10 mins after takeoff, departure frequency 119.2.' on taxi out, ATIS information was obtained changing runway to 22L/right. The SID for 22L/right states 'turn left, climb on 190 degree heading, upon crossing 30 DME ilsq (108.7) ILS turn right to a 220 degree heading, maintain 5000 ft.' both pilots reverted to looking at the runway 22L/right departure procedures assuming the original ACARS ATC clearance had applied to runway 4L/right. The runway 22L/right departure was flown and just after making the turn to 220 degrees (3 DME) and passing 3500 ft MSL (thinking altitude clearance was 5000 ft as depicted on SID) departure controller stated he needed us to level off for traffic. A level off was made at approximately 3800 ft MSL. After a second or 2, the controller gave us a heading change to 300 degrees and climb to 10000 ft. During climb to 10000 ft, the ATC ACARS clearance was reviewed by both pilots and thought possibly the ACARS clearance did in fact apply to our runway 22L/right departure. Effective jul/22/93 the new newark 4 departure gives 2500 ft altitude for runway 4L/right and 5000 ft for runway 22L/right.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT BUST IN SID DEP PROC.

Narrative: ATIS INFO WAS OBTAINED CALLING RWY 4L/R FOR LNDG/DEPARTING TFC. THE SID CALLS FOR CLB ON 060 DEG HDG UNTIL XING IEWR (108.7) ILS 4 DME, THEN L TO HDG 290 DEGS, MAINTAIN 2500 FT. ATC ENRTE CLRNC WAS RECEIVED VIA ACARS. THE TKOF CLRNC STATED 'EWR 4 SID EXCEPT AT 2 DME TURN HDG 220 DEGS, MAINTAIN 2500 FT, EXPECT REQUESTED ALT 10 MINS AFTER TKOF, DEP FREQ 119.2.' ON TAXI OUT, ATIS INFO WAS OBTAINED CHANGING RWY TO 22L/R. THE SID FOR 22L/R STATES 'TURN L, CLB ON 190 DEG HDG, UPON XING 30 DME ILSQ (108.7) ILS TURN R TO A 220 DEG HDG, MAINTAIN 5000 FT.' BOTH PLTS REVERTED TO LOOKING AT THE RWY 22L/R DEP PROCS ASSUMING THE ORIGINAL ACARS ATC CLRNC HAD APPLIED TO RWY 4L/R. THE RWY 22L/R DEP WAS FLOWN AND JUST AFTER MAKING THE TURN TO 220 DEGS (3 DME) AND PASSING 3500 FT MSL (THINKING ALT CLRNC WAS 5000 FT AS DEPICTED ON SID) DEP CTLR STATED HE NEEDED US TO LEVEL OFF FOR TFC. A LEVEL OFF WAS MADE AT APPROX 3800 FT MSL. AFTER A SECOND OR 2, THE CTLR GAVE US A HDG CHANGE TO 300 DEGS AND CLB TO 10000 FT. DURING CLB TO 10000 FT, THE ATC ACARS CLRNC WAS REVIEWED BY BOTH PLTS AND THOUGHT POSSIBLY THE ACARS CLRNC DID IN FACT APPLY TO OUR RWY 22L/R DEP. EFFECTIVE JUL/22/93 THE NEW NEWARK 4 DEP GIVES 2500 FT ALT FOR RWY 4L/R AND 5000 FT FOR RWY 22L/R.

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.