A cpr flight crew in an light transport climbs into class a airspace while awaiting an IFR clearance...

Attributes
ACN	365227
Time
Date	199703
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : int
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 17500 msl bound upper : 18500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl artcc : zdc
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 45 flight time total : 1900 flight time type : 65
ASRS Report	365227
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : far other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Takeoff from mt airy VFR to get clearance in the air from ZTL. We leveled off at 17500 ft because we did not have an IFR clearance yet. I heard the captain say we needed to be at an even altitude for our direction of flight. I thought the captain would descend. I was busy with center because the center could not find our flight plan. The next thing I know we are climbing past FL180. I advise the captain and we descend below FL180 after reaching a maximum of approximately FL185. Lesson learned: watch the captain closely and don't assume he knows what he is doing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CPR FLC IN AN LTT CLBS INTO CLASS A AIRSPACE WHILE AWAITING AN IFR CLRNC.

Narrative: TKOF FROM MT AIRY VFR TO GET CLRNC IN THE AIR FROM ZTL. WE LEVELED OFF AT 17500 FT BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE AN IFR CLRNC YET. I HEARD THE CAPT SAY WE NEEDED TO BE AT AN EVEN ALT FOR OUR DIRECTION OF FLT. I THOUGHT THE CAPT WOULD DSND. I WAS BUSY WITH CTR BECAUSE THE CTR COULD NOT FIND OUR FLT PLAN. THE NEXT THING I KNOW WE ARE CLBING PAST FL180. I ADVISE THE CAPT AND WE DSND BELOW FL180 AFTER REACHING A MAX OF APPROX FL185. LESSON LEARNED: WATCH THE CAPT CLOSELY AND DON'T ASSUME HE KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING.

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.