Flight crew mistook 7000 ft for 17000 ft on climb instructions.

Attributes
ACN	290825
Time
Date	199412
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : las
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : las
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	departure other departure sid : sid enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 40
ASRS Report	290825
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Departure instructions were amended to fly runway heading to 7000 ft (original clearance was the oasis departure). Upon climb out, I asked for a VFR climb on course. The controller said he was unable due to traffic and assigned a 240 degree heading to intercept the las 210 degree radial and continue the oasis departure, maintain 7000 ft. Frequency got extremely busy and calls to other aircraft were being blocked. A call to us was blocked completely and upon inquiry, the controller failed to read any instructions that were missed. Approximately 1 min later, the ground proximity went off calling 'terrain' -- 'pull-up.' at the same time the controller asked our altitude. The reply was 7000 ft and climbing for terrain -- he replied we were instructed to climb to 17000 ft. At a safe altitude, I informed him that his instructions were blocked earlier and we received no confirmation after I informed him of the blocked instructions. Factors leading to this situation were controller overload. The departure/arrival control at las class B airspace should be divided into smaller sectors at busy times.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC MISTOOK 7000 FT FOR 17000 FT ON CLB INSTRUCTIONS.

Narrative: DEP INSTRUCTIONS WERE AMENDED TO FLY RWY HDG TO 7000 FT (ORIGINAL CLRNC WAS THE OASIS DEP). UPON CLBOUT, I ASKED FOR A VFR CLB ON COURSE. THE CTLR SAID HE WAS UNABLE DUE TO TFC AND ASSIGNED A 240 DEG HDG TO INTERCEPT THE LAS 210 DEG RADIAL AND CONTINUE THE OASIS DEP, MAINTAIN 7000 FT. FREQ GOT EXTREMELY BUSY AND CALLS TO OTHER ACFT WERE BEING BLOCKED. A CALL TO US WAS BLOCKED COMPLETELY AND UPON INQUIRY, THE CTLR FAILED TO READ ANY INSTRUCTIONS THAT WERE MISSED. APPROX 1 MIN LATER, THE GND PROX WENT OFF CALLING 'TERRAIN' -- 'PULL-UP.' AT THE SAME TIME THE CTLR ASKED OUR ALT. THE REPLY WAS 7000 FT AND CLBING FOR TERRAIN -- HE REPLIED WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO CLB TO 17000 FT. AT A SAFE ALT, I INFORMED HIM THAT HIS INSTRUCTIONS WERE BLOCKED EARLIER AND WE RECEIVED NO CONFIRMATION AFTER I INFORMED HIM OF THE BLOCKED INSTRUCTIONS. FACTORS LEADING TO THIS SIT WERE CTLR OVERLOAD. THE DEP/ARR CTL AT LAS CLASS B AIRSPACE SHOULD BE DIVIDED INTO SMALLER SECTORS AT BUSY TIMES.

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.