Altitude deviation altitude overshot.

Attributes
ACN	297446
Time
Date	199502
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mci
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mci tower : mci
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time total : 14000
ASRS Report	297446
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I reported to departure from tower control that we were out of approximately 2700 ft for 4000 ft. At that time, the copilot said she forgot that clearance delivery said we were to level at 2500 ft on departure. She then started to descend at about 3100 to 3200 ft, but at the same time, departure cleared us to 4500 ft to top. Departure never questioned our reported altitude. It has been standard procedures to climb to 4000 ft after takeoff. Also traffic volume was very low. There was only 1 departure in front of us and I don't remember anyone behind us on takeoff. On reviewing the checklist for clearance, the copilot only said she got a VFR 4500 ft clearance (climb to 4000 ft is standard) she did not state anything about 2500 ft climb. Taxiing out on the runway nothing had been set in altitude alerter. I then dialed in 4000 ft which is standard altitude for turboprop. The copilot still said nothing about the 2500 ft climb. Also tower only gave heading, no altitude on takeoff. For perception, it seems that pilots get used to the standard oma departure 3000 ft/ict 5000 ft/mci 4000 ft, and when something different is said, it is easy to miss. It would help if they would remind.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV ALT OVERSHOT.

Narrative: I RPTED TO DEP FROM TWR CTL THAT WE WERE OUT OF APPROX 2700 FT FOR 4000 FT. AT THAT TIME, THE COPLT SAID SHE FORGOT THAT CLRNC DELIVERY SAID WE WERE TO LEVEL AT 2500 FT ON DEP. SHE THEN STARTED TO DSND AT ABOUT 3100 TO 3200 FT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, DEP CLRED US TO 4500 FT TO TOP. DEP NEVER QUESTIONED OUR RPTED ALT. IT HAS BEEN STANDARD PROCS TO CLB TO 4000 FT AFTER TKOF. ALSO TFC VOLUME WAS VERY LOW. THERE WAS ONLY 1 DEP IN FRONT OF US AND I DON'T REMEMBER ANYONE BEHIND US ON TKOF. ON REVIEWING THE CHKLIST FOR CLRNC, THE COPLT ONLY SAID SHE GOT A VFR 4500 FT CLRNC (CLB TO 4000 FT IS STANDARD) SHE DID NOT STATE ANYTHING ABOUT 2500 FT CLB. TAXIING OUT ON THE RWY NOTHING HAD BEEN SET IN ALT ALERTER. I THEN DIALED IN 4000 FT WHICH IS STANDARD ALT FOR TURBOPROP. THE COPLT STILL SAID NOTHING ABOUT THE 2500 FT CLB. ALSO TWR ONLY GAVE HDG, NO ALT ON TKOF. FOR PERCEPTION, IT SEEMS THAT PLTS GET USED TO THE STANDARD OMA DEP 3000 FT/ICT 5000 FT/MCI 4000 FT, AND WHEN SOMETHING DIFFERENT IS SAID, IT IS EASY TO MISS. IT WOULD HELP IF THEY WOULD REMIND.

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.