An EMB120 captain returned to communication #1 after talking to company on communication #2 and was told by his first officer that ATC assigned them to FL220. The captain doubted this, since they were only filed to FL200.

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Attributes
ACN	453650
Time
Date	199911
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl.airport
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 20000 msl bound upper : 20700
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Weather Elements	Turbulence Rain Ice Windshear
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Brasilia EMB-120 All Series
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 4200 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	453650
Person 2
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude altitude deviation : overshoot inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : turbulence non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far non adherence : company policies non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During climb out, I was talking to company flight control on communication #2 about some WX ahead. When I finished with company on communication #2, my first officer advised me that ATC cleared us up to FL220. I acknowledged the new altitude assignment, not thinking that we were filed for FL200. At approximately FL207, ATC queried us about our assigned altitude. My first officer responded to the controller that we were cleared to FL220 by the previous controller. ATC said 'ok.' there was no conflict and we continued up to FL220. Upon my questioning the first officer, he was adamant that we were assigned FL220. Since ATC was ok with it, I didn't question it any further, although there is no way for me to truly know without listening to the ATC tapes. Our company is starting a procedure where the captain must confirm any new altitude assignments with ATC if the captain is off communication when the new assignment is received by the first officer. This should help to eliminate errors.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN EMB120 CAPT RETURNED TO COM #1 AFTER TALKING TO COMPANY ON COM #2 AND WAS TOLD BY HIS FO THAT ATC ASSIGNED THEM TO FL220. THE CAPT DOUBTED THIS, SINCE THEY WERE ONLY FILED TO FL200.

Narrative: DURING CLBOUT, I WAS TALKING TO COMPANY FLT CTL ON COM #2 ABOUT SOME WX AHEAD. WHEN I FINISHED WITH COMPANY ON COM #2, MY FO ADVISED ME THAT ATC CLRED US UP TO FL220. I ACKNOWLEDGED THE NEW ALT ASSIGNMENT, NOT THINKING THAT WE WERE FILED FOR FL200. AT APPROX FL207, ATC QUERIED US ABOUT OUR ASSIGNED ALT. MY FO RESPONDED TO THE CTLR THAT WE WERE CLRED TO FL220 BY THE PREVIOUS CTLR. ATC SAID 'OK.' THERE WAS NO CONFLICT AND WE CONTINUED UP TO FL220. UPON MY QUESTIONING THE FO, HE WAS ADAMANT THAT WE WERE ASSIGNED FL220. SINCE ATC WAS OK WITH IT, I DIDN'T QUESTION IT ANY FURTHER, ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO WAY FOR ME TO TRULY KNOW WITHOUT LISTENING TO THE ATC TAPES. OUR COMPANY IS STARTING A PROC WHERE THE CAPT MUST CONFIRM ANY NEW ALT ASSIGNMENTS WITH ATC IF THE CAPT IS OFF COM WHEN THE NEW ASSIGNMENT IS RECEIVED BY THE FO. THIS SHOULD HELP TO ELIMINATE ERRORS.

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.