A VFR atx pilot climbed through his assigned altitude on departure from slc. C206F.

Attributes
ACN	337210
Time
Date	199605
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : slc
State Reference	UT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5500 msl bound upper : 5750
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : slc tower : elp
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Route In Use	departure other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 1200 flight time type : 75
ASRS Report	337210
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Misinterpreted departure clearance 'climb to and maintain 5500 ft' as 6500 ft. This was brought to my attention as I passed through 5750 ft MSL. I then descended to 5500 ft and contacted departure as requested. I believe this was a freak incident and do not foresee a recurrence. Pilots should, however, read back all clrncs very slowly and clearly.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A VFR ATX PLT CLBED THROUGH HIS ASSIGNED ALT ON DEP FROM SLC. C206F.

Narrative: MISINTERPRETED DEP CLRNC 'CLB TO AND MAINTAIN 5500 FT' AS 6500 FT. THIS WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTN AS I PASSED THROUGH 5750 FT MSL. I THEN DSNDED TO 5500 FT AND CONTACTED DEP AS REQUESTED. I BELIEVE THIS WAS A FREAK INCIDENT AND DO NOT FORESEE A RECURRENCE. PLTS SHOULD, HOWEVER, READ BACK ALL CLRNCS VERY SLOWLY AND CLRLY.

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.