An small aircraft pilot flew too close to the top of an overcast.

Attributes
ACN	309070
Time
Date	199506
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : byg
State Reference	WY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10500 msl bound upper : 11500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 11500 flight time type : 10
ASRS Report	309070
Person 2
Affiliation	government other
Function	observation : passenger
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On a VFR flight south of bgy, at 10500 ft while flying over a broken layer, passenger commented that I was awfully close to the clouds and what was clearance anyway. Being in class east or G airspace, I replied 500 ft, one and one, (this is wrong because it is actually one, one and one). I had not completed my climb to 11500 ft which is appropriate for my direction, and I did so. Within a few mi we were over a scattered layer of no consequence. Remainder of flight uneventful and landed safely. I never felt in any danger, but was probably within 1 mi of clouds horizontal thinking 2000 ft was appropriate.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA PLT FLEW TOO CLOSE TO THE TOP OF AN OVCST.

Narrative: ON A VFR FLT S OF BGY, AT 10500 FT WHILE FLYING OVER A BROKEN LAYER, PAX COMMENTED THAT I WAS AWFULLY CLOSE TO THE CLOUDS AND WHAT WAS CLRNC ANYWAY. BEING IN CLASS E OR G AIRSPACE, I REPLIED 500 FT, ONE AND ONE, (THIS IS WRONG BECAUSE IT IS ACTUALLY ONE, ONE AND ONE). I HAD NOT COMPLETED MY CLB TO 11500 FT WHICH IS APPROPRIATE FOR MY DIRECTION, AND I DID SO. WITHIN A FEW MI WE WERE OVER A SCATTERED LAYER OF NO CONSEQUENCE. REMAINDER OF FLT UNEVENTFUL AND LANDED SAFELY. I NEVER FELT IN ANY DANGER, BUT WAS PROBABLY WITHIN 1 MI OF CLOUDS HORIZ THINKING 2000 FT WAS APPROPRIATE.

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.