Large transport did not climb from FL370 to FL390 when cleared to do so.

Attributes
ACN	256498
Time
Date	199311
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mem
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 37000 msl bound upper : 39000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time total : 10000
ASRS Report	256498
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Possible altitude bust. While in cruise level at 370 we requested FL390. Our position was approximately 1 hour east of mem. ATC approved 390 and we acknowledged. After several mins, ATC asked if we were going to climb to 390. Shb couldn't remember if she had cleared us to 390. We indicated that we had received the clearance but forgot to push the right button (initiate the climb). We climbed to 390. The primary contributing factor to this event is probably fatigue for both ATC and the crew. Working all night on the ground or the 'red eye' at night for the crew will likely continue as long as it is profitable and we don't lose too many aircraft. ATC couldn't remember if they gave us the clearance. We didn't remember to act on it. By this time, I had been up for almost 24 hours.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LGT DID NOT CLB FROM FL370 TO FL390 WHEN CLRED TO DO SO.

Narrative: POSSIBLE ALT BUST. WHILE IN CRUISE LEVEL AT 370 WE REQUESTED FL390. OUR POS WAS APPROX 1 HR E OF MEM. ATC APPROVED 390 AND WE ACKNOWLEDGED. AFTER SEVERAL MINS, ATC ASKED IF WE WERE GOING TO CLB TO 390. SHB COULDN'T REMEMBER IF SHE HAD CLRED US TO 390. WE INDICATED THAT WE HAD RECEIVED THE CLRNC BUT FORGOT TO PUSH THE RIGHT BUTTON (INITIATE THE CLB). WE CLBED TO 390. THE PRIMARY CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THIS EVENT IS PROBABLY FATIGUE FOR BOTH ATC AND THE CREW. WORKING ALL NIGHT ON THE GND OR THE 'RED EYE' AT NIGHT FOR THE CREW WILL LIKELY CONTINUE AS LONG AS IT IS PROFITABLE AND WE DON'T LOSE TOO MANY ACFT. ATC COULDN'T REMEMBER IF THEY GAVE US THE CLRNC. WE DIDN'T REMEMBER TO ACT ON IT. BY THIS TIME, I HAD BEEN UP FOR ALMOST 24 HRS.

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.