Narrative:

On initial climb out of mem airport, we were told to expect higher altitude at the end of a long string of instructions. I passed our assigned altitude of 3000 ft while the captain completed the climb checklist. I caught it and began correcting at 3400 ft recovering to 3000 ft within a matter of 30 seconds. ATC did not comment. We both had been distracted by the multiple instructions and normally would have been given a further climb clearance at that location. I suggest that ATC repeat assigned altitude and request a readback of that altitude when they tell you to expect higher clearance. Additionally, breaking down multiple element clrncs into 2 would help, eg, turn to X heading to intercept X radial of X VOR, climb X altitude, and expect X altitude in 10 mi might be too much information at one time.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV ON CLBOUT.

Narrative: ON INITIAL CLBOUT OF MEM ARPT, WE WERE TOLD TO EXPECT HIGHER ALT AT THE END OF A LONG STRING OF INSTRUCTIONS. I PASSED OUR ASSIGNED ALT OF 3000 FT WHILE THE CAPT COMPLETED THE CLB CHKLIST. I CAUGHT IT AND BEGAN CORRECTING AT 3400 FT RECOVERING TO 3000 FT WITHIN A MATTER OF 30 SECONDS. ATC DID NOT COMMENT. WE BOTH HAD BEEN DISTRACTED BY THE MULTIPLE INSTRUCTIONS AND NORMALLY WOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN A FURTHER CLB CLRNC AT THAT LOCATION. I SUGGEST THAT ATC REPEAT ASSIGNED ALT AND REQUEST A READBACK OF THAT ALT WHEN THEY TELL YOU TO EXPECT HIGHER CLRNC. ADDITIONALLY, BREAKING DOWN MULTIPLE ELEMENT CLRNCS INTO 2 WOULD HELP, EG, TURN TO X HDG TO INTERCEPT X RADIAL OF X VOR, CLB X ALT, AND EXPECT X ALT IN 10 MI MIGHT BE TOO MUCH INFO AT ONE TIME.

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.