A C421 pilot climbed through clearance altitude in IMC. Controller issued new clearance.

Attributes
ACN	308870
Time
Date	199506
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dca
State Reference	DC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4800
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dca
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Golden Eagle 421
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 1000 flight time type : 140
ASRS Report	308870
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Cleared to 4000 ft, accidentally continued climb, at 4800 ft. New controller said to maintain 5000 ft. I don't think the controller knew it was a bust, no conflicts arose and flight proceeded normally thereafter. Aircraft does not have altitude preset, dca departure was very busy. Altitude limits are challenging to a busy single pilot IFR operation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C421 PLT CLBED THROUGH CLRNC ALT IN IMC. CTLR ISSUED NEW CLRNC.

Narrative: CLRED TO 4000 FT, ACCIDENTALLY CONTINUED CLB, AT 4800 FT. NEW CTLR SAID TO MAINTAIN 5000 FT. I DON'T THINK THE CTLR KNEW IT WAS A BUST, NO CONFLICTS AROSE AND FLT PROCEEDED NORMALLY THEREAFTER. ACFT DOES NOT HAVE ALT PRESET, DCA DEP WAS VERY BUSY. ALT LIMITS ARE CHALLENGING TO A BUSY SINGLE PLT IFR OP.

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.