Narrative:

Climbing through FL355 ATC advised us that we were only cleared to FL350 and to return to that altitude, which we did. We had set FL370 in the fmcs. Neither my first officer or I are sure whether we set the incorrect altitude, misunderstood the instructions or really were cleared to FL370. Supplemental information from acn 319586: we were at FL290 and told to 'climb and maintain FL350, expect FL370 in 4 mins.' approaching FL350, center called '(garbled) FL370.' the captain 'rogered FL370' and I continued the climb to FL370. Since this was about the 4 min point, I climbed. At about FL355, center said 'air carrier, I show you a little high, confirm you are level FL350.' I responded, 'we were cleared to FL370.' center said, 'descend to and maintain FL350.' I complied, however, before I could get to FL350, center again cleared me to FL370 and added 'no traffic conflict.' this was my first 'altitude bust' in 8 yrs of 121 flying. I cite noisy cockpit, fatigue and prevailing rush, rush, rush attitude that this industry has adopted.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: POSSIBLE ALTDEV, AN ACR MLG CREW WAS CLBING TO AN ALT THAT MAY NOT HAVE YET BEEN ASSIGNED.

Narrative: CLBING THROUGH FL355 ATC ADVISED US THAT WE WERE ONLY CLRED TO FL350 AND TO RETURN TO THAT ALT, WHICH WE DID. WE HAD SET FL370 IN THE FMCS. NEITHER MY FO OR I ARE SURE WHETHER WE SET THE INCORRECT ALT, MISUNDERSTOOD THE INSTRUCTIONS OR REALLY WERE CLRED TO FL370. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 319586: WE WERE AT FL290 AND TOLD TO 'CLB AND MAINTAIN FL350, EXPECT FL370 IN 4 MINS.' APCHING FL350, CTR CALLED '(GARBLED) FL370.' THE CAPT 'ROGERED FL370' AND I CONTINUED THE CLB TO FL370. SINCE THIS WAS ABOUT THE 4 MIN POINT, I CLBED. AT ABOUT FL355, CTR SAID 'ACR, I SHOW YOU A LITTLE HIGH, CONFIRM YOU ARE LEVEL FL350.' I RESPONDED, 'WE WERE CLRED TO FL370.' CTR SAID, 'DSND TO AND MAINTAIN FL350.' I COMPLIED, HOWEVER, BEFORE I COULD GET TO FL350, CTR AGAIN CLRED ME TO FL370 AND ADDED 'NO TFC CONFLICT.' THIS WAS MY FIRST 'ALT BUST' IN 8 YRS OF 121 FLYING. I CITE NOISY COCKPIT, FATIGUE AND PREVAILING RUSH, RUSH, RUSH ATTITUDE THAT THIS INDUSTRY HAS ADOPTED.

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.