Reporter climbs through assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	312213
Time
Date	199508
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : fld
State Reference	WI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 8300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 36 flight time total : 1136 flight time type : 856
ASRS Report	312213
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation
Situations
Publication	Unspecified

Narrative:

Chicago cleared me to 8000 ft. I was climbing past 7000 ft when chicago cleared me 'direct rochester as filed.' since he stated 'as filed,' I continued climbing to my filed altitude of 9000 ft. Upon reaching 8300 ft, chicago notified me that my assigned altitude was 8000 ft. I stated that I filed for 9000 ft. Chicago stated that I must maintain 8000 ft for traffic avoidance. I immediately descended to 8000 ft within plus or minus 20 seconds. Upon landing, chicago area manager cited that the incidence would be reported. I hold that I did not violate chicago's assigned altitude since I was cleared 'direct rochester as filed.' by using the term 'as filed' it was my understanding that he cleared us to proceed according to my filed flight plan and filed altitude of 9000 ft. If chicago would have cleared me 'direct rochester,' or 'direct rochester maintain 8000,' or 'direct rochester as filed maintain 8000 until advised,' I would have made the course change and would have maintained 8000 ft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR CLBS THROUGH ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: CHICAGO CLRED ME TO 8000 FT. I WAS CLBING PAST 7000 FT WHEN CHICAGO CLRED ME 'DIRECT ROCHESTER AS FILED.' SINCE HE STATED 'AS FILED,' I CONTINUED CLBING TO MY FILED ALT OF 9000 FT. UPON REACHING 8300 FT, CHICAGO NOTIFIED ME THAT MY ASSIGNED ALT WAS 8000 FT. I STATED THAT I FILED FOR 9000 FT. CHICAGO STATED THAT I MUST MAINTAIN 8000 FT FOR TFC AVOIDANCE. I IMMEDIATELY DSNDED TO 8000 FT WITHIN PLUS OR MINUS 20 SECONDS. UPON LNDG, CHICAGO AREA MGR CITED THAT THE INCIDENCE WOULD BE RPTED. I HOLD THAT I DID NOT VIOLATE CHICAGO'S ASSIGNED ALT SINCE I WAS CLRED 'DIRECT ROCHESTER AS FILED.' BY USING THE TERM 'AS FILED' IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT HE CLRED US TO PROCEED ACCORDING TO MY FILED FLT PLAN AND FILED ALT OF 9000 FT. IF CHICAGO WOULD HAVE CLRED ME 'DIRECT ROCHESTER,' OR 'DIRECT ROCHESTER MAINTAIN 8000,' OR 'DIRECT ROCHESTER AS FILED MAINTAIN 8000 UNTIL ADVISED,' I WOULD HAVE MADE THE COURSE CHANGE AND WOULD HAVE MAINTAINED 8000 FT.

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.