C172 pilot had altitude deviation.

Attributes
ACN	450748
Time
Date	199910
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : abe.airport
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : abe.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure : on vectors
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 680 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	450748
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Out and back flight, 3n6-abe-3n6. Landed at abe. Tower gave taxi instructions to return to takeoff area. Tower asked our intended route and requested altitude. I said eastbound, request 2500 ft. Tower came back with transponder code and departure frequency, no heading or altitude. Just prior to takeoff, tower instructed me to turn to 090 degrees after takeoff, which I acknowledged. After takeoff, handed off to departure, which asked for my requested altitude. It was mildly turbulent, so I requested 3500 ft, which the controller acknowledged. I climbed to 3500 ft, at which time the controller said 'verify altitude.' I said '3500 ft,' and he ordered descent to 3000 ft for traffic. I descended immediately, and he said I was not cleared above 3000 ft. No further communication until we left the radar service area. I discussed this with my passenger, who also heard nothing of a 3000 ft limit or any other limit. I believe there was an attempt by the tower to save us the hassle of changing to clearance delivery, and in the process the altitude clearance was forgotten. I usually fly from uncontrolled fields, and I should have paid closer attention to what was not said!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 PLT HAD ALTDEV.

Narrative: OUT AND BACK FLT, 3N6-ABE-3N6. LANDED AT ABE. TWR GAVE TAXI INSTRUCTIONS TO RETURN TO TKOF AREA. TWR ASKED OUR INTENDED RTE AND REQUESTED ALT. I SAID EBOUND, REQUEST 2500 FT. TWR CAME BACK WITH XPONDER CODE AND DEP FREQ, NO HDG OR ALT. JUST PRIOR TO TKOF, TWR INSTRUCTED ME TO TURN TO 090 DEGS AFTER TKOF, WHICH I ACKNOWLEDGED. AFTER TKOF, HANDED OFF TO DEP, WHICH ASKED FOR MY REQUESTED ALT. IT WAS MILDLY TURBULENT, SO I REQUESTED 3500 FT, WHICH THE CTLR ACKNOWLEDGED. I CLBED TO 3500 FT, AT WHICH TIME THE CTLR SAID 'VERIFY ALT.' I SAID '3500 FT,' AND HE ORDERED DSCNT TO 3000 FT FOR TFC. I DSNDED IMMEDIATELY, AND HE SAID I WAS NOT CLRED ABOVE 3000 FT. NO FURTHER COM UNTIL WE LEFT THE RADAR SVC AREA. I DISCUSSED THIS WITH MY PAX, WHO ALSO HEARD NOTHING OF A 3000 FT LIMIT OR ANY OTHER LIMIT. I BELIEVE THERE WAS AN ATTEMPT BY THE TWR TO SAVE US THE HASSLE OF CHANGING TO CLRNC DELIVERY, AND IN THE PROCESS THE ALT CLRNC WAS FORGOTTEN. I USUALLY FLY FROM UNCTLED FIELDS, AND I SHOULD HAVE PAID CLOSER ATTN TO WHAT WAS NOT SAID!

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.