Potential conflict ensues after altitude bust by departure traffic.

Attributes
ACN	266804
Time
Date	199403
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : iah
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : iah
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff climbout : initial
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Cessna Aircraft Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 8820 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	266804
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 18000 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were cleared for an immediate takeoff on runway 26 because of traffic on a 4 mi final. Our initial level off altitude was 4000 ft. I (the first officer) acknowledged our takeoff clearance and did not read back any change to our initial altitude. On climb out of approximately 1800 ft MSL, tower advised us of a C182 in our 10 O'clock and 3 mi at 3000 ft. We had this target on our TCASII (yellow). Again, neither pilot heard or acknowledged any lower altitude. We got an RA on this target which called for a 'stop climb,' which we did, and then 'monitor vertical speed.' the captain informed tower we would level at 2500 ft. During this period the cessna advised tower he had us in sight. When the captain mentioned our leveling at 2500 ft MSL, the tower replied we were only cleared to 2000 ft and we should return to 2000 ft. We began descending slowly and the conflict cleared. As I mentioned, this was an immediate takeoff and there were a great deal of xmissions going on. Perhaps the instructions to change our altitude to 2000 ft was stepped on. However, it was never acknowledged.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: POTENTIAL CONFLICT ENSUES AFTER ALT BUST BY DEP TFC.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED FOR AN IMMEDIATE TKOF ON RWY 26 BECAUSE OF TFC ON A 4 MI FINAL. OUR INITIAL LEVEL OFF ALT WAS 4000 FT. I (THE FO) ACKNOWLEDGED OUR TKOF CLRNC AND DID NOT READ BACK ANY CHANGE TO OUR INITIAL ALT. ON CLBOUT OF APPROX 1800 FT MSL, TWR ADVISED US OF A C182 IN OUR 10 O'CLOCK AND 3 MI AT 3000 FT. WE HAD THIS TARGET ON OUR TCASII (YELLOW). AGAIN, NEITHER PLT HEARD OR ACKNOWLEDGED ANY LOWER ALT. WE GOT AN RA ON THIS TARGET WHICH CALLED FOR A 'STOP CLB,' WHICH WE DID, AND THEN 'MONITOR VERT SPD.' THE CAPT INFORMED TWR WE WOULD LEVEL AT 2500 FT. DURING THIS PERIOD THE CESSNA ADVISED TWR HE HAD US IN SIGHT. WHEN THE CAPT MENTIONED OUR LEVELING AT 2500 FT MSL, THE TWR REPLIED WE WERE ONLY CLRED TO 2000 FT AND WE SHOULD RETURN TO 2000 FT. WE BEGAN DSNDING SLOWLY AND THE CONFLICT CLRED. AS I MENTIONED, THIS WAS AN IMMEDIATE TKOF AND THERE WERE A GREAT DEAL OF XMISSIONS GOING ON. PERHAPS THE INSTRUCTIONS TO CHANGE OUR ALT TO 2000 FT WAS STEPPED ON. HOWEVER, IT WAS NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED.

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.