Narrative:

Was assigned altitude of 4000 ft MSL. VMC on IFR flight plan. Accustomed to flying VFR altitudes (VFR flight plan) whenever possible. Continued climb to 4500 ft MSL and leveled off for cruise. Subsequently ATC controller queried as to my altitude and I replied 'level 4500 ft.' controller then restated assigned altitude of 4000 ft MSL. Subsequently, no other mention of deviation was mentioned or discussed. I descended to my assigned altitude and continued my flight without further incident. Had started duty day at XA00 that morning and was somewhat tired. To prevent recurrence, I should write down assignments instead of relying on rote memory.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BE58 PLT HAD ALT OVERSHOOT.

Narrative: WAS ASSIGNED ALT OF 4000 FT MSL. VMC ON IFR FLT PLAN. ACCUSTOMED TO FLYING VFR ALTS (VFR FLT PLAN) WHENEVER POSSIBLE. CONTINUED CLB TO 4500 FT MSL AND LEVELED OFF FOR CRUISE. SUBSEQUENTLY ATC CTLR QUERIED AS TO MY ALT AND I REPLIED 'LEVEL 4500 FT.' CTLR THEN RESTATED ASSIGNED ALT OF 4000 FT MSL. SUBSEQUENTLY, NO OTHER MENTION OF DEV WAS MENTIONED OR DISCUSSED. I DSNDED TO MY ASSIGNED ALT AND CONTINUED MY FLT WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. HAD STARTED DUTY DAY AT XA00 THAT MORNING AND WAS SOMEWHAT TIRED. TO PREVENT RECURRENCE, I SHOULD WRITE DOWN ASSIGNMENTS INSTEAD OF RELYING ON ROTE MEMORY.

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.