An atx lear jet failed to climb in designated mountainous terrain.

Attributes
ACN	260937
Time
Date	199401
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : gva
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : gva
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Gates Learjet Corp Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : initial ground : preflight
Route In Use	departure other departure sid : sid
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	260937
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited adverse environment other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While receiving departure clearance, we had a very hard time understanding the controller because of his accent. With several attempts, we determined that we were cleared to zurich via the 7-CHARLIE departure. The departure included the following: maintain runway until 3 DME or 1900 ft whichever is the latest, then turn right to intercept the 044 degree radial from geneva, climb and maintain 4000 ft. After completing the turn and level at 4000 ft and increasing speed to 250 KTS, a few seconds later, the departure controller asked what is our altitude, we replied 4000 ft. He then said to pull up, climb to 9000 ft. I discussed this situation with the copilot, and we both agreed that we were never given a climb clearance to 9000 ft. I feel this could have been avoided if we questioned the clearance that we were given in more detail. It's possible another determining factor was the communication factor.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ATX LEAR JET FAILED TO CLB IN DESIGNATED MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

Narrative: WHILE RECEIVING DEP CLRNC, WE HAD A VERY HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING THE CTLR BECAUSE OF HIS ACCENT. WITH SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, WE DETERMINED THAT WE WERE CLRED TO ZURICH VIA THE 7-CHARLIE DEP. THE DEP INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING: MAINTAIN RWY UNTIL 3 DME OR 1900 FT WHICHEVER IS THE LATEST, THEN TURN R TO INTERCEPT THE 044 DEG RADIAL FROM GENEVA, CLB AND MAINTAIN 4000 FT. AFTER COMPLETING THE TURN AND LEVEL AT 4000 FT AND INCREASING SPD TO 250 KTS, A FEW SECONDS LATER, THE DEP CTLR ASKED WHAT IS OUR ALT, WE REPLIED 4000 FT. HE THEN SAID TO PULL UP, CLB TO 9000 FT. I DISCUSSED THIS SIT WITH THE COPLT, AND WE BOTH AGREED THAT WE WERE NEVER GIVEN A CLB CLRNC TO 9000 FT. I FEEL THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF WE QUESTIONED THE CLRNC THAT WE WERE GIVEN IN MORE DETAIL. IT'S POSSIBLE ANOTHER DETERMINING FACTOR WAS THE COM FACTOR.

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.