Narrative:

While climbing through 10000 ft, I went off communication #1 to make the PA. At that time, we currently had clearance to FL210. While I was off frequency, the captain requested and received clearance to FL230. When I came back on communication #1, the captain advised me of the new clearance. A few mins later, we received a frequency change and I checked on 'climbing to FL230.' passing FL216, center controller queried us stating that he showed us 500 ft high. We stopped the climb and a min later he reclred us to FL230. 2 problems that I think contributed to the confusion were: the handoff from 1 controller to the next either stated the wrong altitude or the new controller copied it wrong, in either case, when I checked on with the second controller as 'climbing to FL230,' we should have been queried then.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NEW ATC ARTCC CTLR QUESTIONED FLC OF AN LTT REGARDING THEIR ALT SINCE IT APPEARED TO HIM THEY HAD OVERSHOT ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: WHILE CLBING THROUGH 10000 FT, I WENT OFF COM #1 TO MAKE THE PA. AT THAT TIME, WE CURRENTLY HAD CLRNC TO FL210. WHILE I WAS OFF FREQ, THE CAPT REQUESTED AND RECEIVED CLRNC TO FL230. WHEN I CAME BACK ON COM #1, THE CAPT ADVISED ME OF THE NEW CLRNC. A FEW MINS LATER, WE RECEIVED A FREQ CHANGE AND I CHKED ON 'CLBING TO FL230.' PASSING FL216, CTR CTLR QUERIED US STATING THAT HE SHOWED US 500 FT HIGH. WE STOPPED THE CLB AND A MIN LATER HE RECLRED US TO FL230. 2 PROBS THAT I THINK CONTRIBUTED TO THE CONFUSION WERE: THE HDOF FROM 1 CTLR TO THE NEXT EITHER STATED THE WRONG ALT OR THE NEW CTLR COPIED IT WRONG, IN EITHER CASE, WHEN I CHKED ON WITH THE SECOND CTLR AS 'CLBING TO FL230,' WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN QUERIED THEN.

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.